Discrete non-orthogonal shell model for nuclear structure: Towards heavy elements

We present recent developments of the Discrete Non-Orthogonal Shell Model (DNO-SM) for nuclear structure studies far from stability. Exact shell-model solutions are obtained for typical open-shell light sd and pf nuclei using non-orthogonal Slater determinants consistently derived from the variation after projection approach. The latter represents a powerful method to include correlations from particle-hole excitations. Applications to proton-rich nuclei at the N$\sim$Z line show the important role of these correlations to probe the structure transition in the $^{84,86}$Mo isotopes. We finally present a first complete description of low-lying spectroscopy in the superheavy 254 No, reproducing excellently various band structures and isomers in this challenging nucleus.