Pairing and rotation in neutron-deficient even–even Yb isotopes.

The role of pairing in neutron-deficient Yb isotopes has been studied using the Hartree–Fock–Bogoliubov (HFB) approach by employing the energy functional SLy6. A reasonably good description of the observed ground-state properties was obtained. Cranking solutions were obtained for the rotational bands. Neutron pair breaking was found to play a major role above spin J = 14 . Projected shell model with variable pair gap was employed to study the ground-state rotational band. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]