Superdeformed nuclear states

The general properties of high spin and deformed states of nuclei are surveyed. A new kind of nuclear deformation, 'superdeformation' is defined as a state with extra high beta parameter. Theoretical evidences of the existence of the superdeformed metastable states are presented. The experiments performed at the Daresbury Laboratory using TESSA 2 and 3 detector systems proved the existence of the superdeformed states of nucleus 152 Dy up to spin of 60. The evaluation and theoretical interpretation of the experimental data are described in detail. Further perspectives of the study of superdeformed nuclei are briefly summarized. (D.Gy.) 14 refs