Superdeformed and highly deformed bands in 65Zn and neutron-proton interactions in Zn isotopes

Superdeformed and highly deformed rotational bands were established in ⁶⁵Zn using the ⁴⁰Ca(²⁹Si,4p)⁶⁵Zn reaction, and averaged quadrupole moments were measured for two of these bands. The configurations of these bands were assigned based on Hartree-Fock calculations. One of the three bands exhibits at low ℏω a rise in the J⁽²⁾ dynamic moments of inertia that is similar to the alignment gain observed in ⁶⁰Zn. A comparison of the rotational band configurations and their J⁽²⁾ moments of inertia for light Zn isotopes suggests that the rise in J⁽²⁾ is most likely caused by np interactions associated with the valence protons and neutrons occupying the g9/2 intruder orbits.