Interacting-boson-approximation E2 operator in deformed nuclei

The structure of the interacting boson approximation E2 operator appropriate to deformed nuclei is investigated. It is shown that, in the SU(3) limit of the Hamiltonian, the relative B(E2) values of transitions between different representations of SU(3) are independent of the parametrization chosen for the operator. This feature leads to a better understanding of the geometrical analogues of the bands predicted by the interacting boson approximation. More generally, a study of empirical B(E2) values in the deformed rare earth nuclei indicates the suitability of an almost constant form for the E2 operator across the region, and it is shown that the deduced form of the operator automatically predicts a universal dominance of γ→g and β→γ transitions, over β→g transitions