Nuclear shape measurement and the validity of the collective model: results for N does not equal Z nuclei

Previous work which examined the collective-model transition rates in the light of projected wavefunction calculations has been extended to nuclei with N not equal to Z. Some interesting quantitative effects have been found which have implications for folding-model calculations and ultimately for experiments. A relationship with shell-model calculations is suggested and comments on the inadequacies of certain Skyrme-type interactions for light nuclei are noted. It would appear that 26Mg is a much less 'rotational' nucleus than 24Mg but 22Ne might be a better rotational nucleus than 20Ne. It is suggested how 'rotational' a nucleus is may depend on the probe it is examined with. (author)