An alternative interacting boson model description of the N = 90 nuclei

The SU(3) quadrupole- quadrupole interaction is replaced by the SO(6) cubic [Q((0)) x Q((0)) x Q((0))](0) interaction in fitting energy levels, some energy ratios and B(E2) ratios. It is shown that the alternative scheme can indeed be used to describe properties of the X(5) nuclei, for example, Nd-150, Sm-152, Gd-154. The results of the new scheme are compared with the corresponding experimental data and with those of the traditional U(5)-SU(3) transitional description. It is clearly shown that the results are better than those obtained from the traditional U(5)-SU(3) transitional description.