Collective Nuclear Excitations

Abstract

Collective excitations provide some of the most beautiful aspects of nuclear dynamics. In this chapter, the connection between nuclear collective excitations and the forces inside and the structure of the nucleus are discussed, with special emphasis on electromagnetic transitions. Examples presented are the excitation of the giant dipole resonance, that might be interpreted as oscillations of protons and neutrons against each other; quadrupole and octupole excitations corresponding to oscillations of the geometric shape of the nucleus around its equilibrium form and Coulomb excitation of deformed nuclei in heavy ion reactions leading to highly excited rotational states.