Systematics in the structure of low-lying, non-yrast band-head configurations of strongly deformed nuclei

A systematic application of the pseudo-SU(3) model for a sequence of rare earth nuclei demonstrates that an overarching symmetry can be used to predict the onset of deformation as manifested through low-lying collective bands. The results also show that it is possible to obtain a unified description of members of the yrast band and the Kπ = 21+ and Kπ = 02+ excited bands by using a classification scheme based on particle occupation numbers in the valence shells. The scheme utilizes an overarching Sp(4, R) symplectic framework. The nuclei that are considered belong to the F0 = 0 and F0 = 1 symplectic multiplets of the (50,82-82,126) shell.