Isospin Non-Conservation in Shell Model Approach and Applications*

Up to now, empirical shell-model Hamiltonians for valence space calculations provide the most accurate description of the low-energy spectra and individual transitions of sd- and pf-shell nuclei. These features made them of particular importance for the description of the isospin-symmetry-breaking phenomena, such as energy splitting of the isobaric multiplets or isospin-forbidden transition rates. In this contribution, we demonstrate the applications of a recently constructed isospin non-conserving (INC) Hamiltonian in sd shell [Lam et al. Phys. Rev. C 87, 054304 (2013)]. First, we explore the partial decay scheme of 24Si and discuss the states affected by the Thomas-Ehrman shift. Second, we show the accuracy of the INC Hamiltonian for the description of the mirror energy differences.

Ab Initio and Model Calculations on Different Phases of Zirconia

In order to get a better understanding of the energetics of ZrO2 (zirconia) ab initio calculations with the full potential linear muffin tin orbital method ( fp LMTO) have been performed on the tetragonal structure over a range of c/a and sublattice displacement. A new semi-empirical shell model is developed which makes use of Hartree-Fock calculations and includes compressible anions and quadrupolar distortions. The empirical model predicts energies for tetragonal distortion in agreement with the fp LMTO calculations. Furthermore, it enables us to understand why the seven-fold coordinated monoclinic phase is the low temperature equilibrium structure.