Fine structure in the region of the isoscalar giant quadrupole resonance (ISGQR) in 58Ni, 89Y, 90Zr, 120Sn, 166Er, and 208Pb has been observed in high-energy-resolution ( E1/2 35–50 keV) inelastic proton scattering measurements at E0 = 200 MeV at iThemba LABS. Calculations of the corresponding quadrupole excitation strength functions performed within models based on the random-phase approximation (RPA) reveal similar fine structure when the mixing of one-particle one-hole states with two-particle two-hole states is taken into account. A detailed comparison of the experimental data is made with results from the quasiparticle-phonon model (QPM) and the extended time-dependent Hartree-Fock (ETDHF) method. For 208Pb, additional theoretical results from second RPA and the extended theory of finite Fermi systems (ETFFS) are discussed. A continuous wavelet analysis of the experimental and the calculated spectra is used to extract dominant scales characterizing the fine structure. Although the calculations agree with qualitative features of these scales, considerable differences are found between the model and experimental results and amongst different models. Within the framework of the QPM and ETDHF calculations it is possible to decompose the model spaces into subspaces approximately corresponding to different damping mechanisms. It is demonstrated that characteristic scales mainly arise from the collective coupling of the ISGQR to low-energy surface vibrations

Results of reaction cross-section measurements on 12 C, 40 Ca, 90 Zr, and 208 Pb at incident proton energies between 80 and 180 MeV and for 58 Ni at 81 MeV are presented. The experimental procedure is described, and the results are compared with earlier measurements and predictions using macroscopic and microscopic models.

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Negative-parity bands in the vicinity of 156Gd and 160Yb have been suggested as candidates for the rotation of tetrahedral nuclei. We report the observation of the odd and even-spin members of the lowest energy negative-parity bands in 160Yb and 154Gd. The properties of these bands are similar to the proposed tetrahedral band of 156Gd and its even-spin partner. Band-mixing calculations are performed and absolute and relative quadrupole moments deduced for 160Yb and 154Gd. The values are inconsistent with zero, as required for tetrahedral shape, and the bands are interpreted as octupole vibrational bands. The failure to observe the in-band E2 transitions of the bands at low spins can be understood using the measured B(E1) and B(E2) values.

Fine structure in the energy region of the isoscalar giant quadrupole resonance in nuclei is observed in high-resolution proton scattering experiments at iThemba LABS over a wide mass range. A novel method based on wavelet transforms is introduced for the extraction of scales characterizing the fine structure. A comparison with microscopic model calculations including two-particle two-hole (2p2h) degrees of freedom identifies the coupling to surface vibrations as the main source of the observed scales. A generic pattern is also found for the stochastic coupling to the background of the more complex states.