The γ-decay of highly rotating nuclei: From discrete bands to damped rotational motion

The nuclear rotational motion in deformed nuclei has been investigated at varying rotational frequencies and excitation energies by comparing measured and calculated spectra of the nucleus 168 Yb. The calculated spectra were obtained making use of simulations of the γ-decay cascades by Montecarlo techniques. The energies and transition strengths were obtained from cranked mean field rotational bands, interacting via a surface-delta interaction. The main properties of rotational decay are reproduced in a satisfactory way. The role of the residual interaction acting among rotational bands was found to be very important. The fluctuation analysis method was applied to both the measured and calculated spectra