Some aspects of reflection asymmetric deformations in nuclei

The nuclear shape in the intrinsic frame is studied using the Strutinsky method. Various potentials (Nilsson, folded Yukawa and Woods-Saxon) are used for the microscopic part, and the macroscopic part is described as a liquid drop with either a sharp or a smooth surface. Special attention is paid to the possibility of octupole deformed ground states. The consequences of octupole deformations for the rotational behaviour are investigated using the cranking model. It is particularly shown that octupole deformation may supress the backbending in some nuclei. (author)