Quartet structure of $N=Z$ nuclei in a boson formalism: the case of $^{28}$Si.

The structure of the $N=Z$ nucleus $^{28}$Si is studied by resorting to an IBM-type formalism with $s$ and $d$ bosons representing isospin $T=0$ and angular momentum $J=0$ and $J=2$ quartets, respectively. $T=0$ quartets are four-body correlated structures formed by two protons and two neutrons. The microscopic nature of the quartet bosons, meant as images of the fermionic quartets, is investigated by making use of a mapping procedure and is supported by the close resemblance between the phenomenological and microscopically derived Hamiltonians. The ground state band and two low-lying side bands, a $\beta$ and a $\gamma$ band, together with all known $E2$ transitions and quadrupole moments associated with these states are well reproduced by the model. An analysis of the potential energy surface places $^{28}$Si, only known case so far, at the critical point of the U(5)-$\overline{\rm SU(3)}$ transition of the IBM structural diagram.