Bohr Hamiltonian with Davidson potential for triaxial nuclei

Abstract: A solution of the Bohr Hamiltonian appropriate for triaxial shapes, involving a Davidson potential in beta and a steep harmonic oscillator in gamma, centered around gamma=30 degrees, is developed. Analytical expressions for spectra and B(E2) transition rates ranging from a triaxial vibrator to the rigid triaxial rotator are obtained and compared to experiment. Using a variational procedure it is pointed out that the Z(5) solution, in which an infinite square well potential in beta is used, corresponds to the critical point of the shape phase transition from a triaxial vibrator to the rigid triaxial rotator.