Evidence for shape coexistence in ⁹⁸Mo

A $\gamma\gamma$ angular correlation experiment has been performed to investigate the low-energy states of the nucleus $^{98}$Mo. The new data, including spin assignments, multipole mixing ratios and lifetimes reveal evidence for shape coexistence and mixing in $^{98}$Mo, arising from a proton intruder configuration. This result is reproduced by a theoretical calculation within the proton-neutron interacting boson model with configuration mixing, based on microscopic energy density functional theory. The microscopic calculation indicates the importance of the proton particle-hole excitation across the Z=40 sub-shell closure and the subsequent mixing between spherical vibrational and the $\gamma$-soft equilibrium shapes in $^{98}$Mo.