Competition Between the Single-particle Seniority Regime and Collective Motion in Intermediate-mass Nuclei

The E2 transition strength, B(E2), gives particularly precise information on the competition between the collective and single-particle degree of freedom. An important observable to study the development of collectivity is the B(E2; 4₁⁺ →2₁⁺)/B(E2; 2₁⁺ →g.s.) (B_4/2). The B_4/2 ratio is usually greater than unity. These values are 1.4 and 2.0 for an ideal rotor and a vibrator, respectively. Whereas the seniority scheme usually leads to different behaviours. In this contribution I will show examples that contrast with our standard understanding. The yrast spectra of Te isotopes show a vibrational-like equally-spaced pattern but the few known E2 transitions show anomalous rotational-like behaviour, which cannot be reproduced by collective models. Large-scale shell model calculations reproduce well the equally-spaced spectra of those isotopes as well as the constant behaviour of the B(E2) values in ¹¹⁴Te. For nuclei involving protons or neutrons in j=9/2 orbitals, the partial conservation of seniority can lead to dramatic changes to the E2 decay pattern that have never been seen before. The B_4/2 ratios in quantum phase transitional nuclei around N=90 also show a similar exotic feature.