Shape Transitions and Jacobian Instability in Excited Krypton Isotopes

Shape transitions as a function of angular momentum in even–even krypton isotopes with A = 72–84 have been investigated using the cranked Nilsson–Strutinsky method. The Jacobi shape transition from noncollective oblate to super or hyperdeformed collective prolate or triaxial shape taking place in rotating nuclei as in the case of gravitating rotating stars is studied in krypton isotopes. The cranked Nilsson–Strutinsky method with a method of tuning the angular velocity to get the fixed spins is used in the calculations. Our results show that all the krypton isotopes considered in this study are the good candidates for detecting the Jacobi shape transition. Shape evolutions as a function of spin and temperature with thermal fluctuations are studied using the Landau theory of phase transitions. The constants appearing in the Landau expression for the free energy are determined by using the free energy surfaces at ω = 0 calculated by the Strutinsky method. We show that in the presence of thermal fluctuations, the averaged shapes obtained for the considered isotopes differ from the most probable shapes. The sharp Jacobi transitions are modified due to the effect of thermal fluctuations.