Enlarged deformation region in neutron-rich Zr isotopes by the second intruder orbit

Abstract: Nuclear deformations and density profiles of neutron-rich even-even Zr isotopes are investigated using the Skyrme-Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov method. Large quadrupole and hexadecapole deformations are predicted along with large enhancement of the total reaction cross sections at the neutron number $N=60$-74. Strong nuclear deformation starting at $N=60$ is induced by the occupation of the intruder orbit with the asymptotic quantum number $[nn_z\Lambda]\Omega$ = [550]1/2 originating from the spherical $0h_{11/2}$ orbit. The deformation region is further enlarged from $N=72$ to 74 owing to the occupation of the next intruder orbit with [530]1/2 originating from the spherical $1f_{7/2}$ orbit. This characteristic nuclear deformation is crucially reflected in the systematic behavior of the nuclear radii and the density profiles near the nuclear surface.