Microscopic description of the excitation of some states in the 90,92,94,96Zr isotopes

We describe the application of a realistic self-consistent theory of finite Fermi systems to the ground and low excited states of the 90,92,94,96Zr isotopes. Results were obtained for the ground, 21+ and 31− states in each nucleus, and for the lowest 4+, 5−, 6+ and 8+ states in 90Zr. Transition densities were generated for the excitation of each of these states and their properties examined. Transition potentials for their excitation by hadronic inelastic scattering were constructed by folding with appropriate interactions between the projectile and each target nucleon. The calculated inelastic scattering cross sections are compared in detail with experimental results, particularly those for alpha particles at 35.4 MeV and 6Li at 70 MeV. The implications of any discrepancies found are discussed. In addition, the theoretical results were used as “experimental” data in order to test the validity of using various simple models for the analysis of data.