Octupole deformation properties of actinide isotopes within a mean-field approach

We discuss the octupole deformation properties of many even–even actinide isotopes. The analysis is carried out in the mean-field framework (Hartree–Fock–Bogoliubov approximation) by using the axially symmetric octupole moment as a constraint. A one-dimensional octupole collective Hamiltonian is used to obtain properties such as excitation energies or the E 1 and E 3 transition probabilities of the negative-parity band-heads associated with the lowest lying 1 − and 3 − states. The evolution of these values with neutron number is discussed and a comparison with available experimental data is made. In order to minimize the uncertainties associated with the energy density functional used, the calculations have been carried out for an assorted set ranging from the BCP1 functional to the finite-range Gogny interaction with the D1S, D1N and D1M parametrization.