Casten, R. F., and E. A. McCutchan. “Quantum phase transitions and structural evolution in nuclei.” Journal of Physics G: Nuclear and Particle Physics 34, no. 7 (2007): R285.
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Recently, the idea of quantum phase transitions has been applied to equilibrium shape changes in finite atomic nuclei. An introduction to and discussion of this concept, both from the macroscopic perspective and from a microscopic approach, in terms of shell structure and residual interactions is presented. Following this, the quantitative predictions of the critical point symmetries (CPS) X(5) and E(5) are discussed in some detail and compared to the data in a number of nuclei and mass regions. Any successful new model paradigm soon generates modifications to improve the predictions and, likewise, often spawns related models inspired by the original ansatz. This is eminently true of the CPS and we make an effort to briefly discuss this rapidly advancing area in terms of a number of recent modifications to the CPS as well as related models that are couched in a geometrical perspective.