Nilsson-Strutinsky model of very high spin states

Abstract The Nilsson-Strutinsky approach to the description of yrast properties at very high spins is reviewed. Some recent calculations are presented and discussed with regard to the available experimental data. A nice agreement in the Te-region is pointed out. The aim is however more to describe physical trends than to make detailed predictions for specific nuclei. The general variation of the shell effects with spin and particle number is emphasized. For example, it is described how in special regions around closed shells yrast isomers are expected. Furthermore, the combination of certain particle numbers give rise to secondary minima at large deformations, which at high spins begin to compete with the ground-state minimum. This would be observed as a super-back-bend. A mechanism for collective mixing into high-spin single-particle spectra is discussed. A final section is devoted to the region above the yrast line and how the present approach might be extended to increase our understanding of the phenomena observed there.