Empirical p-n interactions: Global trends, configuration sensitivity and N=Z enhancements

Empirical proton-neutron (p-n) interaction strengths are extracted for all nuclei with well-known binding energies. Particularly large interaction strengths are noted for N=Z nuclei: They result primarily from the T=0 component of the interaction and are discussed in terms of both schematic and realistic shell model calculations. Also, the observed micro-structure of the p-n interaction in doubly magic and deformed regions sheds light on both the orbit sensitivity and on the role of monopole and quadrupole components of the p-n interaction. (orig.)