We study the mechanisms which reduce the proton 1d 3/2 -1d 5/2 spin-orbit splitting and the neutron 1f 7/2 subshell closure in 42 Si. We use various self-consistent mean field models: non-relativistic Skyrme-Hartree-Fock and relativistic density-dependent Hartree-Fock. Special attention is devoted to the influence of a tensor component in the effective interaction. It is found that the tensor force indeed governs the reduction of the 1d proton spin-orbit splitting. On the other hand, the reduction of the neutron 1f 7/2 subshell closure is not clearly related to the tensor force.

Dipole excitations in neutron-rich nuclei below the neutron threshold are investigated. The method is based on Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov (HFB) and Quasiparticle-Phonon Model (QPM) theory. Of our special interest are the properties of the low-lying 1 − Pygmy Resonance and the two-phonon quadrupole-octupole 1 − states in Sn-isotopes including exploratory investigations for the experimentally unknown mass regions. In particular we investigate the evolution of the dipole strength function with the neutron excess. The use of HFB mean-field potentials and s.p. energies is found to provide a reliable extrapolation into the region off stability.

Neolithic artifacts made of nephrite, □Ca2(Fe,Mg)5Si8O22(OH)2, are found at prehistoric settlements in Bulgaria. This study investigates these objects based on particle induced X‐ray emission using a scanning nuclear microprobe (micro‐PIXE technique). Seven nephrite artifacts from the Neolithic sites of Kovachevo, Bulgarchevo and Galabnik in southwest Bulgaria were analyzed to quantify their composition and to establish if a correlation exists between the distribution of major and trace elements, color, impurities, and texture. The nephrite artifacts are tremolite in composition, with a proposed ultrabasic origin. Based on the geochemical data obtained by micro‐PIXE, we divide the artifacts into Group 1 objects from the Kovachevo site and Group 2 objects from the Galabnik and Bulgarchevo sites. The analytical data and microprobe analyses are compared with geochemical data of nephrite from across the globe. The results are in a good agreement with previous electron microprobe and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy data. Our study provides a better understanding of the mineralogy and geochemistry of nephrite artifacts and helps to address questions regarding origin and the distribution of such materials in Bulgaria and other Balkan countries.

Highly excited single-particle states in nuclei are coupled with the excitations of a more complex character, first of all with collective phononlike modes of the core. In the framework of the quasiparticle-phonon model, we consider the structure of resulting complex configurations, using the 1k 17/2 orbital in 209 Pb as an example. Although, on the level of one-and two-phonon admixtures, the fully chaotic Gaussian orthogonal ensemble regime is not reached, the eigenstates of the model carry a significant degree of complexity that can be quantified with the aid of correlational invariant entropy. With artificially enhanced particle-core coupling, the system undergoes the doubling phase transition with the quasiparticle strength concentrated in two repelling peaks. This phase transition is clearly detected by correlational entropy.