QUANTUM ALGEBRAIC SYMMETRIES IN NUCLEAR AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS

The first realizations of quanttun algebraic symmetries in nuclear and molecular spectra are presented. Rotational spectra of even-even nuclei are described by the quantum algebra SUq(2). The two parameter formula given by the algebra is equivalent to an expan- sion in terms of powers of j(j + 1), similar to the expansion given by the Variable Moment of Inertia (VMI) model. The moment of inertia parameter in the two models, as well as the small parameter of the expansion, are found to have very similar numerical values. The same formalism is found to give very good results for superdeformed nuclear bands, which are closer to the classical SU(2) limit, as well as for rotational bands of diatomic molecules, in which a partial summation of the Dunham expansion for rotation-vibration spectra is achieved. Vibrational spectra of diatomic molecules can be described by the q-deformed anhannonic oscillator, having the symmetry Uq(2)>Oq(2). An alternative de- scription is obtained in terms of the quantum algebra SUq(1,1). In both cases the energy formula obtained is equivalent to an expansion in terms of powers of (v+½) , where ν is the vibrational quantum number, while in the classical ST(1,1) case only the first two powers appear. In all cases the improved description of the empirical data is obtained with q being a phase (and not a real number). Further applications of quantum algebraic symmetries in nuclei and molecules are discussed.