Probing high-order deformation effects in neutron-deficient nuclei 246,248No with improved potential-energy-surface calculations

摘要: The high-order deformation effects in even-even 246,248No are investigated by means of pairing self-
consistent Woods-Saxon-Strutinsky calculations using the potential-energy-surface (PES) approach in an ex-
tended deformation space (β2, β3, β4, β5, β6, β7, β8). Based on the calculated two-dimensional-projected en-
ergy maps and different potential-energy curves, we found that the highly even-order deformations have an
important impact on both the fission trajectory and energy minima, while the odd-order deformations, accom-
panying the even-order ones, primarily affect the fission path beyond the second barrier. Relative to the light
actinide nuclei, the nuclear ground state changes to the superdeformed configuration, but the normally-deformed
minimum, as the low-energy shape isomer, may still be primarily responsible for enhancing nuclear stability and
ensuring experimental accessibility in 246,248No. Our present investigation indicates the nonnegligible impact
of high-order deformation effects along the fission valley and will be helpful for deepening the understand-
ing of different deformation effects and deformation couplings in nuclei, especially in this neutron-deficient
heavy-mass region.