In-beam study of 145Tb

The high-spin states of ¹⁴⁵Tb have been studied in the ¹¹⁸Sn(³²S, 1p4n) reaction at ³²S energies from 161 to 175 MeV using techniques of in-beam γ-ray spectroscopy. Measurements of γ-ray excitation functions and γ-γ-t coincidences were performed with 12 BGO(AC)HPGe detectors. Based on the measured results of γ-γ coincidences, γ-ray anisotropies and DCO ratios, a level scheme for ¹⁴⁵Tb was established for the first time. The observed excited states show typical irregular pattern in a spherical nucleus, and the low-lying levels have been interpreted qualitatively with a particle-core coupling. Received: 21 September 2001 / Accepted: 9 November 2001     

Band structures in 108In

High spin states in ¹⁰⁸In have been established upto ∼ 8 MeV in excitation energy and to a tentative spin of (23⁻). The data were obtained by in-beam γ-ray spectroscopy using the reaction ⁹³Nb(¹⁹F, p3n)¹⁰⁸In at a beam energy of 86 MeV. Four sequences of dipole bands and a normal rotational band of E2 γ-transitions have been placed in the level scheme. Received: 16 June 1998     

Yrast level structure of the neutron-deficient N = 80 isotones 146Dy, 147Ho and 148Er up to high-spin values

High-spin level schemes of the N = 80 isotones ¹⁴⁶Dy, ¹⁴⁷Ho and ¹⁴⁸Er have been investigated by in-beam γ-ray spectroscopic methods using the NORDBALL Compton-suppressed multidetector array including proton and neutron selection. The projectile-target system ⁵⁸Ni + ⁹²Mo at 260 MeV beam energy has been used to produce the neutron-deficient N = 80 isotones. The previously known schemes have been extended to considerably higher spin and exitation energy, up to I = 23?, E _x≈ 8.9 MeV in ¹⁴⁶Dy, I = 53/2?, E _x≈ 8.7 MeV in ¹⁴⁷Ho and I = 23?, E _x≈ 9.6 MeV in ¹⁴⁸Er. The results are discussed in terms of the spherical shell model. Many of the levels can be described within this framework. Received: 12 January 2001 / Accepted: 11 April 2001     

The 130Nd↦130Pr↦130Ce decay chain revisited

An investigation of low-lying energy levels of ¹³⁰Pr and ¹³⁰Ce has been made via β-decay. The radioactive parent nuclei were produced via ^94,96Mo + ⁴⁰Ca reactions at 6.8 MeV/nucleon and transported by a He-jet system. Gamma-γ-t, γ-X-t, γ-e^--t coincidence measurements were performed. Internal conversion coefficients have been measured with a magnetic spectrometer. The new β-decay half-life of ¹³⁰Nd has been determined to be 21(3) s. A partial level scheme of ¹³⁰Pr at low-spin has been constructed. The β-decay of ¹³⁰Pr to ¹³⁰Ce suggests the existence of three β-instable isomeric states in ¹³⁰Pr, while only one half-life T _1/2 = 40(4) s has been measured. Based on the present work and low-lying excited states in neighbouring odd-mass nuclei, the spins and parities of isomeric states in ¹³⁰Pr are proposed to be 2⁺, (4,5)⁺ and (7,8^±). The ground state in ¹³⁰Pr is still undetermined. Received: 20 August 2001 / Accepted: 6 November 2001     

Precise determination of the neutron scattering length of lead isotopes <Superscript>204</Superscript>Pb, <Superscript>207</Superscript>Pb and <Superscript>208</Superscript>Pb by neutron interferometry

Excited states of ⁶⁸Ga have been investigated through the ⁵⁵Mn(¹⁶O, 2pn) reaction at projectile energy 55 MeV. The level scheme has been extended up to 7.8 MeV. Altogether six new excited levels could be identified and twelve previously unobserved γ-transitions have been placed in the modified level scheme. Received: 19 June 2000 / Accepted: 20 October 2000     

The structure of 99Ru from (α,3n) reaction

The results of in-beam investigations of excited states of ⁹⁹Ru using the ⁹⁸Mo(α,3n) reaction are presented. Angular distributions of γ–rays and γ–γ coincidences have been measured. Excited states have been identified up to an energy of E = 5603 keV and spin of I^π= 31/2⁻. Mean lifetimes τ have been determined using the DSA method for eleven levels. Aligned angular momenta are discussed and the probable (νh _11/2) origin of a backbending at frequency about 0.5 MeV was confirmed. The possible role of (νd _5/2) alignment at frequencies above 0.5 MeV was pointed out. Received: 13 January 1999 / Revised version: 26 March 1999     

Measurement of the 24Mg(p, t)22Mg reaction for the states near the 21Na + p threshold

Differential cross-sections of the ²⁴Mg(p, t)²²Mg reaction were measured at 34.68 MeV for the states near the proton threshold at 5.502 MeV in ²²Mg. Among them, the new states at 5.962, 6.046, 6.246 and 6.323 MeV, which were reported previously, have been confirmed. Angular distributions for these states were analyzed by distorted-wave Born-approximation calculations to deduce the spins and parities. The angular distribution for the 5.714 MeV state, which is considered to be most crucial for the stellar reaction ²¹Na(p, γ)²²Mg, has been found to be consistent with J ^π = 2⁺ assignment. The 6.046 MeV state is newly assigned to have J ^π = 0⁺, and the 5.962 MeV state is tentatively assigned to have J ^π = (1^-). These two states will also play an important role for ²²Mg production in novae. Received: 7 March 2002 / Accepted: 7 May 2002     

High-spin isomers in 183Os

High-spin states in ¹⁸³Os have been studied by means of in-beam γ-ray spectroscopy. Two isomers with I ^π= ((43/2)⁻) and (43/2)⁺ have been identified at excitation energies of E _x = 5.068 and 5.168 MeV. The half-lives are determined as T _1/2= 27 ± 3 and 24 ± 2 ns. Received: 22 December 1997     

New insight in the level structure of <Superscript>153</Superscript>Er

The high-spin level structure of the ¹⁵³Er nucleus has been reinvestigated by in-beam γ-ray and electron spectroscopy with (¹⁴N,pxn) reaction. Excitation energies, spin and parity assignments are unambiguously established for the two lowest isomers T _1/2≃ 380 ns and T_1/2\simeq 10 ns. The characteristics of the third one (T _1/2≃ 250 ns) at 5.2 MeV are still questionable but its main decay modes are better known. An extension of the level scheme is proposed up to 8.4 MeV.Experimental results have been discussed in terms of shell model multiplets and compared with the other structures observed in N=85 neighbouring nuclei. Received: 8 November 1999 / Revised version: 13 December 1999     

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     

Observation of intermediate bands feeding the positive-parity yrast band in 155Gd

High-spin states of ¹⁵⁵Gd were populated by using the ¹⁵⁴Sm(α,3nγ)¹⁵⁵Gd reaction at E _α= 33 MeV. γ-γ coincidence, E _γ singles, excitation function, and the DCO ratios were measured. we have identified three intermediate bands with ΔI= 2 feeding the positive yrast band. The bands are interpreted as such candidate bands that are mixed with the negative-parity ground state band. This observation can provide a plausible explanation for unusually large population of the positive-parity yrast band observed in a recent Coulomb excitation. Received: 2 November 1999     

Measurement of the lifetime of the first 2+ state in 124Ba

The lifetime of the first 2⁺ state in the nucleus ¹²⁴Ba has been measured by γ-γ coincidence recoil-distance Doppler shift method. The ¹⁰⁹Ag(¹⁹F, 4n)¹²⁴Ba reaction at a beam energy of 75 MeV was employed to populate excited states in ¹²⁴Ba. The mean lifetime was determined to be 275(12) ps using the differential decay curve method. The value of B(E2;0₁ ⁺→ 2₁ ⁺) for ¹²⁴Ba deduced from the lifetime is in reasonable agreement with the prediction of the proton-neutron interacting boson model(IBM-2) without Pauli blocking effect. Received: 23 February 1998     

Lifetimes and configuration mixing in 110Cd

Lifetimes of excited states in ¹¹⁰Cd have been measured by the Doppler shift attenuation method in the reaction (α,2nγ) at E _α= 25 MeV. Lifetime values for 8 states and lifetime limits for 3 states were obtained. The band structures of ¹¹⁰Cd have been interpreted in terms of a modified version of the interacting boson model (IBM + 2 q.p.). The calculations explain well the excitation energies and electromagnetic transition probabilities up to J ^π= 16⁺, except for the 10⁺ ₁ state. The structural features are discussed in terms of collective and two quasiparticle excitations. Received: 20 March 1999 / Revised version: 28 May 1999     

Coherent and incoherent π0 photoproduction from the deuteron

Differential cross-sections for the reactions d (γ,π⁰)d and d (γ,π⁰)pn have been measured at MAMI with the TAPS detector setup in the energy range 140 MeV < E _γ < 306 MeV. By use of the Glasgow tagging spectrometer an 0.8 MeV energy resolution for photons incident on the target was achieved. The π⁰ missing energy resolution was sufficient for a reliable separation of coherent and incoherent channels. The data for the break-up channel exhibit very strong final state interaction effects, whereas the observed angular dependence of the inclusive process d (γ,π⁰)X is in quantitative agreement with predictions for a quasi-free process. The observed absolute d (γ,π⁰)X cross-sections, on the other hand, are significantly smaller than predicted by the quasi-free process for E _γ >∼ 250 MeV. Associating this failure with the π⁰ photoproduction on the neutron would suggest that its cross-section is up to 25% below the presently believed value. Received: 13 February 2001 / Accepted: 13 April 2001     

Fragment dependence of high energy γ-ray emission in the spontaneous fission of 252Cf

The high energy γ-ray emission accompanying the spontaneous fission of ²⁵²Cf has been measured in coincidence with individual fission fragments selected by discrete γ-ray transitions. The enhancement of the γ-ray emission probability in the energy range E_γ= 3–8 MeV has been observed for the fission fragments in the region of nearly symmetric mass splitting, confirming results reported in previous investigations. The γ-γ coincidence technique employed in the present work clearly demonstrate that the major contribution to this enhancement is caused by the fission channels where one fragment is near to the N= 82 or Z= 50 shell closures. The high energy γ-ray emission probability does not show any significant dependence on the number of neutrons emitted in the fission process, supporting the hypothesis that high energy γ-rays are mainly emitted from the fragments after the neutron evaporation. Received: 22 December 1998     

Low-spin states of doubly odd 182Au

Low-lying states in the odd-odd light gold isotope ¹⁸²Au have been populated by the β⁺/EC decay of the ¹⁸²Hg nuclei. Level energies, spin and parity values were determined using on-line γ-ray and e^- spectroscopy measurements. No isomeric state with a long half-life was found in the ¹⁸²Au nucleus. Spin and parity I ^π = 2⁺ can be very likely assigned to the ¹⁸²Au ground state. Received: 19 December 2000 / Accepted: 28 February 2001     

High-spin states in odd-odd 168Lu

High-spin states of odd-odd ¹⁶⁸Lu were observed up to 18ħ for the first time using the ¹⁵⁹Tb(¹³C, 4nγ)¹⁶⁸Lu reaction at E _13C= 58.5 MeV. γ-γ coincidence, E _γ singles, excitation function, and the DCO ratios were measured. Two rotational bands with signature splitting were populated, among which the lower-energy band is identified as π 7/2⁺[404] ⊗ν 5/2⁺[642] in view of alignment and energy systematics. Received: 27 October 1997     

High-spin shell-model states near 56Ni

High-spin states of nuclei near doubly magic ⁵⁶Ni were studied with the reaction ²⁸Si(³⁶Ar,xpynzα) at 136 MeV beam energy. The Gammasphere array in conjunction with the 4π charged-particle detector array Microball and neutron detectors were used to detect γ rays in coincidence with evaporated light particles. The resulting extensive decay schemes of ⁵⁴Fe, ^54,55Co, ^56,57Ni, and ⁵⁸Cu are compared to shell model calculations in the fp shell. Received: 19 September 1998 / Revised version: 27 November 1998     

Spectroscopy of 112Pd using heavy-ion-induced fission

High-spin states in ¹¹²Pd were studied using prompt γ-ray spectroscopy with Gammasphere following heavy-ion-induced fission in the reaction ¹⁸O + ²⁰⁸Pb at 91 MeV. A new 8⁺ level at 2638 keV was discovered with transitions connecting it to the yrast band and the quasi-gamma band. The three, now established, closely spaced 8⁺ states indicate a mixing between the ground-state band, s-band, and quasi-gamma band. Several high-spin structures with likely negative parity have been extended to higher spin and it is proposed that they are based on the νh _11/2(g _7/2 d _5/2) and νh _11/2(s _1/2 d _3/2) configurations. Received: 28 November 2000 / Accepted: 8 February 2001     

The angular distribution of the 12C(γ,pn) reaction for Eγ=120−150 MeV

The angular distribution of nucleons emitted in the ¹²C(γ,pn) reaction has been measured using tagged photons at the Mainz microtron MAMI. The variation of the reaction strength with the polar angles of the two emitted nucleons is reported for E_γ=120−150 MeV. The proton angular distribution peaks at more backward angles than the ²H(γ,p) differential cross section indicating a departure from the simple quasi-deuteron model of 2N photo-emission. The distribution shape is in reasonable agreement with microscopic theoretical models which include both π- and ρ-exchange. Received: 3 September 1997 / Revised version: 17 December 1997