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Nuclear masses near N = Z from Nilsson-Strutinsky calculations with pairing corrections beyond BCS from an isospin-conserving pairing force

A model with nucleons in a charge-independent potential well interacting by an isovector pairing force is considered. For a 24-dimensional valence space, the Hartree-Bogolyubov (HB) plus random phase approximation (RPA) to the lowest eigenvalue of the Hamiltonian is shown to be accurate except near values of the pairing force coupling constant G where the HB solution shifts from a zero to a non-zero pair gap. In the limit G -> infinity the HB + RPA is asymptotically exact. The inaccuracy of the HB + RPA in the critical regions of G can be remedied by interpolation. The resulting algoritm is used to calculate pairing corrections in the framework of a Nilsson-Strutinsky calculation of nuclear masses near N = Z for A = 24-100, where N and Z are the numbers of neutrons and protons, and A = N + Z. The dimension of the valence space is 2A in these calculations. Adjusting five liquid drop parameters and a power law expression for the constant G as a function of A allows us to reproduce the measured binding energies of 112 doubly even nuclei in this range with a root mean square deviation of 0.95 MeV. Several combinations of the masses for different N, Z, and isospin T are considered and the calculations found to be in good agreement with the data. It is demonstrated by examples how fluctuations as a function of A of the constant X in an expansion of the symmetry energy of the form T(T+X)/(2 theta) can be understood from the shell structure.