Shape coexistence in 187Au studied by laser spectroscopy

Laser spectroscopy of ¹⁸⁷Au aimed at whether two different shapes live as low-lying states in the same nucleus.

Optical isotope shifts and hyperfine structure of gold, published in Physical Review C. Charge radii and moments distinguish a more spherical configuration from a deformed one.

Shape coexistence in gold is the neighbour story to mercury staggering. ¹⁸⁷Au is a place where the two shapes are close enough that laser spectroscopy can see both.