Constant contours of basic observables are discussed in the context of the interacting boson approximation (IBA) symmetry triangle. Contours that exhibit orthogonal crossing within the triangle are presented as a method for determining a set of parameter values for a particular nucleus and trajectories for isotopic chains. A set of contours that highlights a class of nuclei that are outside the two-parameter IBA-1 Hamitonian space is also presented.

• Received 14 August 2006

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.74.057302