CHAOS IN AXIALLY-SYMMETRICAL NUCLEAR-POTENTIAL WITH DIFFUSE SURFACE AND SPIN-ORBIT-COUPLING

The results for the classical single-particle motion in the Woods-Saxo n potential with octupole deformation including the spin-orbit interac tion are reported. The dependence of the nucleonic dynamics on the pot ential diffuseness and on the spin-orbit coupling is studied. The mode l is examined by means of qualitative (Poincare sections) as well as q uantitative (Lyapunov exponents, power spectrum) methods. The transiti on from order to chaos is observed when the spin-orbit coupling increa ses. The role of the diffuseness of the potential in suppressing chaos is also shown.