Nuclear structure in the vicinity of the N = Z line in the A = 90-100 region

Neutron-deficient nuclei in the mass region A≈ 90-100 exhibit a large variety of phenomena. In this region the heaviest N = Z nuclei are identified and enhanced neutron-proton correlations are expected when protons and neutrons occupy identical orbitals. A variety of nuclear shapes are predicted and observed for A? 91, including superdeformed shapes. The nucleus ¹⁰⁰Sn is the heaviest N = Z doubly magic nucleus believed to be bound. Knowledge of the shell structure around ¹⁰⁰Sn is of utmost importance for understanding the nuclear shell model. New results on both the N = Z nucleus ⁸⁸Ru, superdeformed structures in A≈ 90 nuclei as well as the first result on the level structure in ¹⁰³Sn, and an extended level structure in ¹⁰²In are presented. The limitations of using stable beams and targets and the possibilities with new radioactive beams are briefly outlined. Received: 1 May 2001 / Accepted: 4 December 2001     

Investigation of the magnetic rotation in 196Pb

Lifetimes for low-lying members of the irregular ΔI = 1 band in ¹⁹⁶Pb have been measured by means of the EUROBALL spectrometer using the coincidence recoil distance technique. The ¹⁶⁴Dy(³⁶S,4n)¹⁹⁶Pb reaction at a beam energy of 168 MeV was used. The data were analyzed with the differential decay-curve method (DDCM). A characteristic drop in the reduced transition probabilities with increasing angular momentum was observed in agreement with predictions by the semiclassical model for the shears mechanism. Received: 3 May 2001 / Accepted: 20 June 2001     

Inelastic scattering on 12Be and disappearance of the N = 8 magic number

Experimental studies on in-beam γ-ray spectroscopy using a ¹²Be radioactive beam are presented. Inelastic scattering of the neutron-rich ¹²Be nucleus on ²⁰⁸Pb, ¹²C, and (CH₂)_n targets has been studied by measuring de-excitation γ-rays in coincidence with scattered particles. The level schemes and transition probabilities are determined for low-lying excited states in ¹²Be. The present paper presents a brief review of the spectroscopic results, which may be associated with the N = 8 shell quenching near the drip line. Received: 1 May 2001 / Accepted: 4 December 2001     

New microsecond isomers in 189, 190Bi

The ¹³⁷I nucleus, populated in the spontaneous fission of ²⁴⁸Cm has been studied by means of prompt γ-ray spectroscopy using the EUROGAM2 array. Medium-spin yrast excitations in ¹³⁷I were observed for the first time. The experimental level scheme is compared to the shell model calculation with modified Kuo-Herling interaction. The theoretical predictions differ significantly from the experimental results, indicating that the excitation pattern in ¹³⁷I deviates significantly from the shell model scheme. Received: 6 June 2001 / Accepted: 4 October 2001     

High-spin states in 208Pb

High-spin states in ²⁰⁸Pb have been studied by γ-ray-spectroscopy methods in deep inelastic reactions induced by beams of ²⁰⁸Pb, ¹³⁶Xe and ⁷⁶Ge beams on a thick ²⁰⁸Pb target. The 11⁺ ₂ state and new γ-transitions between the one-particle one-hole states of highest spin have been found and electromagnetic matrix elements verified. High-spin states of two-particle two-hole structure have been detected for the first time. The results are compared to shell model calculations with realistic interactions in the complete Kuo-Herling space. Received: 31 October 2000 / Accepted: 26 March 2001     

Development of magnetic rotation in light Gd nuclei; study of 142Gd

High-spin states in ¹⁴²Gd have been populated by means of the ⁹⁹Ru(⁴⁸Ti, 2p3n) reaction at 240 MeV and investigated with the γ-spectrometer EUROBALL III and the charged-particle detector array ISIS. The features of four dipole bands have been determined and compared with tilted-axis cranking model calculations indicating that they are magnetic rotational bands. A transition from regular to irregular bands has been found approaching N = 82 demonstrating that this is a general phenomenon in nuclei near a double-shell closure. Received: 9 December 2001 / Accepted: 9 January 2002     

Rotational bands in the near-drip-line nucleus 128Nd

The even-even nucleus ¹²⁸Nd was studied via in-beam γ-ray spectroscopy using the ⁴⁰Ca + ⁸²Mo reaction at 190 MeV. Two new bands were observed besides the yrast one, that has been extended up to spin 34⁺. Configurations were assigned to the three bands by analysing their rotational properties and by comparison with the neighboring even-even nuclei. Received: 18 July 2001 / Accepted: 25 October 2001     

High-spin states in neutron-rich nuclei explored with deep-inelastic HI reactions

The use of deep-inelastic heavy-ion reactions for the spectroscopy of neutron-rich nuclei is discussed. Conclusions from the N/Z equilibration process studies are outlined and examples of spectroscopic results obtained for the neutron-rich spdf shell nuclei, N = 82 isotones and nuclei from the ²⁰⁸Pb region are reviewed. Received: 1 May 2001 / Accepted: 4 December 2001     

High-spin states in the deformed 122Ba nucleus

The even-even nucleus ¹²²Ba was studied via in-beam γ-ray spectroscopy using the ⁴⁰Ca + ⁹²Mo reaction at 190 MeV. Five bands were observed, four more that can be found in the literature. Configurations were assigned to the various bands from the comparison with the neighboring even-even nuclei. Received: 10 July 2001 / Accepted: 10 October 2001     

First identification of rotational bands in 103Tc: Evolution of intrinsic proton states of the 97-105 43Tc isotopes

High-spin states of ¹⁰³ ₄₃Tc have been identified for the first time, this nucleus being produced as fission fragment following the fusion reaction ³⁷Cl + ¹⁷⁶Yb at 170 MeV bombarding energy. The high-spin level scheme has been built from the prompt gamma rays detected using the Euroball III array. It exhibits similarities with those of the neighbouring isotopes and isotones. All the band head configurations observed in the ^97-105Tc isotopes are identified from the behaviour of the rotational bands built on them. The single-proton states located around the Fermi level are discussed as a function of deformation of these nuclei. Received: 19 January 2001 / Accepted: 23 February 2001     

Signature inversion in πi13/2⊗νi13/2 structure in 178Ir

High-spin states in ¹⁷⁸Ir were investigated by means of in-beam γ-ray spectroscopy techniques using the multidetector array GASP. Excited states of ¹⁷⁸Ir were populated through the ¹⁵⁹Tb(²⁴Mg, 5n) fusion-evaporation reaction at E(²⁴ Mg) = 131-141 MeV. Several rotational bands were observed. Among them, the πi _13/2⊗νi _13/2 structure has been identified up to spin 36 ?. This band exhibits an anomalous signature splitting and a signature inversion around spin 25 ?. Received: 13 December 2000 / Accepted: 11 April 2001     

High-spin states in <Superscript>36</Superscript>Ar and their underlying shell model configurations

Eight high-spin states in ³⁶Ar below 10MeV excitation energy, among them a prospective J ^π = 8^- state at 9408keV and the J? 8 levels of the recently discovered superdeformed rotational band, have been observed by n-γ coincidence measurements with the ³³S(α, nγ) reaction at E _α = 14.4 and 13.4MeV. High-spin assignments of, respectively, J ^π = 6⁺ and 5^- were obtained for the E _p = 1209 and 1462keV (E _x = 9682 and 9927keV) resonances of the ³⁵Cl (p,γ) reaction by a measurement of γ-ray angular distributions. The spectrum of the high-spin and of the E _x? 7.4MeV levels is decomposed according to the underlying shell model configurations with n = 0, 1, 2, 4 particles excited from the N = 2 into the N = 3 major shell. The role of four-particle excitations, all connected with large prolate distortions, is elucidated for the entire A = 36-40 mass region. Received: 21 December 2001 / Accepted: 25 March 2002     

High-spin states in 44Ca

High-spin states of the ⁴⁴Ca nucleus populated in the 68 MeV ¹⁸O + ³⁰Si reaction have been studied in a γ-γ-recoil coincidence experiment. The level scheme of ⁴⁴Ca has been extended up to 12.2 MeV. In particular, the negative-parity band has been identified with the highest I = 13^- level at 10.6 MeV. This state is interpreted as the band-terminating state for the ( d _3/2 ^-1 f _7/2 ⁵) configuration. Received: 7 November 2001 / Accepted: 3 December 2001     

The 27Al (p,γ)28Si reaction: direct capture cross-section and resonance strengths at Ep = 0.2-1.12 MeV

The ²⁷Al(p,γ)²⁸Si reaction has been investigated using two different 4π NaI summing detectors. The strength of 26 resonances in the energy range from 200 to 1120 keV has been measured. In addition, yield measurements have been carried out at 9 beam energies in the 490 to 1150 keV range in order to determine the direct capture cross-section. The existing data on the non-resonant mechanism were analysed and combined with the results of the present work. The resulting resonance strengths as well as the deduced direct capture astrophysical S-factor are compared with previous work. Received: 4 October 2000 / Accepted: 7 December 2000     

Signature inversion in the yrare band of <Superscript>119</Superscript>Xe

Excited states of the ¹¹⁹Xe nucleus have been studied by using in-beam γ-ray spectroscopy with the ¹⁰⁷Ag ( ¹⁶O, p3n) ¹¹⁹Xe fusion-evaporation reaction at a beam energy of 85 MeV. The level scheme of ¹¹⁹Xe has been derived from γ-γ coincidence and γ-γ angular correlation analyses. We have, for the first time, established the second negative-parity favored and unfavored states built on the 11/2^- state, namely the yrare rotational bands in ¹¹⁹Xe. In contrast to the behavior of the yrast bands where the favored states are lying lower in energy, the yrare favored states were observed to lie above the unfavored band. Such a signature inversion in ¹¹⁹Xe is changed to be normal at I = 12?. Received: 8 January 2002 / Accepted: 18 April 2002     

Evidence for excited states in 95Ag

The first evidence for excited states in ⁹⁵Ag is presented. ⁹⁵Ag is the heaviest T _z = 1/2 nucleus for which gamma-rays have been identified. The reaction ⁴⁰Ca(⁵⁸Ni, 1p2n)⁹⁵Ag was used in the experiment, which resulted in the assignment of three gamma-rays to ⁹⁵Ag. A detector system consisting of the detector arrays Euroball, Neutron Wall and Euclides was used to detect gamma-rays, neutrons and charged particles, respectively. Received: 31 May 2002 / Accepted: 8 July 2002     

High-spin spectroscopy of 63 31Ga32 and 65 31Ga34

High-spin states in the nuclei ⁶³Ga and ⁶⁵Ga were studied following the reaction ³²S + ⁴⁰Ca at a reaction energy of 125 MeV and using the GASP γ-ray spectrometer in combination with the ISIS charged-particle detector system. In addition to low-lying negative-parity states with single-particle character, rotational-like cascades built on the 9/2⁺ and 19/2^- states have been observed in both nuclei. Sidebands with negative parity in ⁶³Ga and positive parity in ⁶⁵Ga could be established. The experimental results are compared with Total Routhian Surface calculations which describe the nuclei as moderately deformed (β₂≈ 0.25) and γ soft at low rotational frequencies. The highest experimentally observed positive-parity state in ⁶⁵Ga (41/2⁺) is in good agreement with the calculated crossing of the collective band with a non-collective one terminating at this spin. Received: 20 December 2000 / Accepted: 2 May 2001     

Low-lying states of 6He studied via the 6Li(t,3He)6He reaction

We present the recent experimental results on the ⁶He structure studied by the ⁶Li(t, ³He)⁶He reaction at 336 MeV. Above the conspicuous peaks for ground and first excited states for ⁶He, we have observed a broad structures at E _x∼ 5 MeV, and E _x∼ 15 MeV. The angular distribution of this structure exhibits the dominance of a ΔL = 1 transition, indicating the existence of intruder dipole states at low excitation energies in ⁶He. A slight admixture of positive-parity states in this structure has been indicated as well. Received: 1 May 2001 / Accepted: 4 December 2001     

Cluster structures in light nuclei

Clustering in light stable and unstable nuclei is discussed. After a brief review of the clustering in stable nuclei, we make a new prediction of the existence of the alpha cluster condensed states in ¹²C and ¹⁶O. Discussions of clustering in light unstable nuclei are made in the cases of Be and B isotopes up to the neutron dripline. Received: 1 May 2001 / Accepted: 4 December 2001     

Decay of proton-rich nuclei between 39Ti and 49Ni

Decay studies of very neutron-deficient nuclei ranging from ³⁹Ti to ⁴⁹Ni have been performed during a projectile fragmentation experiment at the GANIL/LISE3 separator. For all nuclei studied in this work, ^{39, 40}Ti, ^{42, 43}Cr, ⁴⁶Mn, ^{45, 46, 47}Fe and ⁴⁹Ni, half-lives and decay spectra have been measured. In a few cases, γ coincidence measurements helped to successfully identify the initial and final states of transitions. In these cases, partial decay scheme are proposed. For the most exotic isotopes, ³⁹Ti, ⁴²Cr, ⁴⁵Fe and ⁴⁹Ni, which are candidates for two-proton radioactivity from the ground state, no clear evidence of this process is seen in our spectra and we conclude rather on a delayed particle decay. Received: 26 July 2000 / Accepted: 20 December 2000