Symmetries in Atomic Nuclei

The authors have for decades worked on the applications of symmetries in nuclear, molecular, and other areas of physics. They were actively involved in the theoretical introduction of supersymmetry in nuclear physics. Jan Jolie became an experimental physicist and subsequently performed several crucial experiments to test the applications of supersymmetry in atomic nuclei. For this work he was awarded the Leigh-Page Prize 2000 by Yale University. Alejandro Frank is a Fellow of the American Physical Society and has received several distinctions including a Guggenheim Fellowship. Piet Van Isacker is a member of the Mexican Academy of Science and has written two previous books on the application of symmetry methods to nuclear physics.

"The subject of this book, symmetries in physical systems, with particular focus on atomic nuclei, is of the utmost importance in modern physical science. In contrast to most treatments, frequently characterized by fearsome formalism, this book leads the reader step-by-step, in an easily understandable way, through this fascinating field. The volume starts from a beautiful and simple introduction to symmetry in the first chapter, stressing the deep relations between symmetry, degeneracies, quantum numbers, and selection rules, and systematically proceeds through the dynamical symmetries of the Interacting Boson Model, quantum phase transitions, a very nice discussion of partial dynamical symmetries (a topic of growing importance), intruder states, mixed symmetry states, bose-fermi models and, finally, to nuclear supersymmetry (different from the fundamental supersymmetry of particle physics). Throughout, the discussion makes frequent and detailed relation to real data in atomic nuclei where many of these concepts have received their most thorough vetting. Owing to the elegant pedagogical approach, this book is remarkably accessible to both theorists and experimentalists. Indeed, I view it as essential reading for experimental nuclear structure physicists. This is one of the finest volumes on this subject I have ever encountered." Prof. R.F. Casten, Yale University

• Symmetry and Supersymmetry in Quantal Many-Body Systems.- Symmetry in Nuclear Physics.- Supersymmetry in Nuclear Physics.- Symmetries with Neutrons and Protons.- Supersymmetries with Neutrons and Protons.- Supersymmetry and Supersymmetric Quantum Mechanics.- Conclusion.