Electromagnetic decay of excited 0+ states in 64, 66, 68Zn

The E0 and E2 transitions depopulating the excited 0⁺ states in ^64,66,68Zn are investigated. Several methods of γ-ray, conversion-electron and internal-pair spectrometry are employed, including a new time measurement technique. A total of 5 E0 transitions are observed and the monopole strengths ρ²(0_i⁺ → 0_i⁺) for most of them are extracted. The results and the nature of the excited 0⁺ states are discussed in terms of several nuclear models.     

Collective states in even Sn nuclei

0⁺, 2⁺, 4⁴ and 3^? states in ^112–124Sn have been studied with the (p, p′γ) reaction and in Coulomb excitation. Absolute E2 transition rates between these levels have been extracted with the aid of the Winther-de Boer code. For ^116,118Sn, B(E2; 4₁⁺ → 2₁⁺) ≈ 20 W.u., suggesting a two-phonon character of the 4₁⁺ states. For the lighter and heavier isotopes, this value is significantly smaller. All observed values of B(E2; 2₂⁺ → 2₁⁺) and B(E2; 2₃⁺→ 2₁⁺) are about 5 W.u. Also. values of B(E3; 0₁⁺ → 3^?₁) have been measured for all stable even Sn nuclei. In ¹¹⁶Sn the branching ratio (3₁^? → 0₁⁺)/(3₁^? → 2₁⁺) has been measured. From this we obtain a half-life of 0.34±0.07 ps for the first 3^? level in ¹¹⁶Sn and B(E1; 3₁^? → 2₁⁺) = (1.4±0.3) × 10^?5'e² · b, corresponding to a hindrance factor of 10³.     

0+ states and E0 and E2 transition rates in even Sn nuclei

0⁺ states and their depopulating E0 and E2 transitions have been studied in ^112–124Sn. Several methods of γ-ray and electron spectrometry have been employed, including special coincidence techniques for lifetime, conversion electron and double Coulomb excitation measurements. For ^114–118Sn the E2 transition probabilities from the first excited 0⁺states (0₂⁺) are about 20 W.u., which is compatible with a vibrational two-phonon character. Also the E0 transition probabilities from these states are within a factor of two from the vibrational values. For the second excited 0⁺ states (0₃⁺) the corresponding E2 and E0 transition probabilities are considerably smaller. A total of 12 E0 transitions have been observed. The 0₃⁺ → 0₂⁺ transition is observed in ^114–120Sn and has in ¹¹⁶Sn a reduced transition probability 1–2 orders of magnitude larger than those of the groundstate E0 transitions, which indicates that the 0₃⁺ and 0₂⁺ states are strong mixtures of components with different 〈r²〉. The 0⁺ states in ¹¹⁶Sn are discussed as possible rotational band heads associated with a deformation β₂ ≈ 0.2. The Coulomb excitation cross section of the 0₂⁺ state is found to be sensitive to an interference term including matrix elements with the 2₂⁺ state. The relative sign of this term has been determined.     

Coulomb excitation and lifetime measurements of the 21+ states in 76, 82, 84Kr

A mean lifetime of τ = 35 ± 3 ps of the 2⁺₁ state in ⁷⁶Kr has been measured with the recoil distance method via the reaction ⁶³Cu(¹⁹F, α2n)⁷⁶Kr. The B(E2; 0⁺₁ → 2⁺₁) values and lifetimes of the 2⁺₁ states in ^{82, 84}Kr have been measured via Coulomb excitation using the 1.4 MeV/A UNILAC krypton beams. The intensities of the γ-rays from the Coulomb excited levels of ^{82, 84}Kr were interrelated with those of the target nuclei ²⁷Al, ^{64, 66}Zn and ^{70, 72, 74, 76}Ge and yielded the values $\text{B(}\text{E}\text{2; 0}{}^{\mathrm{+}}{}_1\text{→ 2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}{}_1\text{= 0.255±0.009}\text{and}\text{0.122 ± 0.005}\text{e}\text{2 ·}\text{b}\text{2}\text{for}{}^{\mathrm{82,\; 84}}\text{Kr}$, respectively. In turn, these B(E2) values and the (E2; 0⁺₁ → 2⁺₁ values of the even Ge and Zn isotopes from the literature were used in a Doppler-shift attenuation analysis to obtain experimentally lacking electronic stopping power for Kr ions slowing down in Al, Zn and Ge. for Ge ions in Ge and for Zn ions in Zn.     

Electric monopole component in the 2+' → 2+ transition in 192Pt

Angular correlation measurements of K- and L-conversion electrons following the decay ¹⁹²Ir → ¹⁹²Pt have been made using a spectrometer with Ge(Li) and Si (Li) detectors. Absolute and relative internal conversion coefficients of transitions in ¹⁹²Pt were measured, using an ICC and prism β-spectrometers, to ≈ 2 % and values of δ_γ determined from the relative ICC. The experimental values measured in the study, A₂₂(K296γ316) = 0.138 ± 0.010, A₂₂(L296γ316) = 0.125 ± 0.013, α_K(296) = 0.0711 ± 0.0011, K/L_III = 9.65 ± 0.13. With δ_γ = + 5.4 ± 0.2, were employed for determining the E0/E2 amplitude ratios of conversion transitions, q(E0/E2), and the penetration parameter λ of the Ml component for the 2⁺' → 2⁺ (296 keV) transition in ¹⁹²Pt. The angular correlation measurements of L-conversion electrons enabled the elimination of one of two ranges of values of q and λ usually obtained. For the first time in our work, analysis of the e_Lγ angular correlation for the determination of the E0 component in the transition was carried out. As a result, q = +0.04 ± 0.05 with λ = ?4.5 ± 3.5 was obtained for the 296 keV transition. In this case, _ρ(E0) = 0.004 ± 0.005 agrees with _ρ(E0) = +0.006 determined theoretically by Kumar and Baranger for the 2⁺' → 2⁺ transition     

Deformed states of high spin in42Ca

The⁴²Ca levels at 4,715 and 6,633 keV excitation energy have been investigated using the³⁹ K(α,pγ reaction atE _α=14 and 15 MeV. From particle-γ-ray angular correlations the spin assignmentsJ(4,715)=6, 4 andJ(6,633)=8, 6, 4 have been obtained. Lifetime measurements using the Doppler-shift attenuation method yieldedτ (4,715)=120±46 fs andτ(6,633)=52±21 fs. Both levels have positive parity and decay by enhancedE2 transitions. They are interpreted as theJ ^π=6⁺ and 8⁺ members, respectively, of theK ^π=0⁺ rotational band which has theE _x =1,837, 2,423 and 3,250 keV states as further members. The enhancement of inbandE2 transitions is 50 _?16 ⁺³⁵ W.u. (6→4) and 63 W.u. (8→6) respectively. The intrinsic quadrupole moments which have been derived on the basis of the coexistence model, areQ ₀=1.13?0.16/+0.37b(8→6) andQ ₀=1.36±0.25b(6→4), respectively. TheJ ^π=10⁺ member of the rotational band has possibly been observed as a level at 8,856±5 keV excitation energy.     

Search forββ decay of76Ge to the excited states in76Se

Lower limits on the half-life of theββ(2v+0v) decay of⁷⁶Ge to the excited states in⁷⁶Se have been obtained using the results of low-background measurements with a HPGe detector surrounded by passive germanium shielding: T_1/2(0⁺ → 2 ₁ ⁺ ) >1.1 · 10²¹ y, T_1/2(0⁺ → 0 ₁ ⁺ ) > 1.7 · 10²¹ y, T_1/2(0⁺ → 2^2/+) > 1.4 ·10²¹ y.     

A measurement of B(E3;0+ → 31−) and some E2 transition probabilities in 132, 134, 136, 138Ba using Coulomb excitation

Reduced transition probabilities, B(E2) and B(E3), have been measured for low-lying 2⁺ and 3^? states in ^{132, 134, 136, 138}Ba using Coulomb excitation by 40 MeV ¹²C ions. The B(E2) values are in general consistent with previous measurements and the B(E3;0⁺ → 3₁^?) values are 0.176 ± 0.022, 0.148 ± 0.018, 0.155 ± 0.018 and 0.133 ± 0.013 e² · b³ for ^{132, 134, 136, 138}Ba respectively. These B(E3) values correspond to about 24 to 17 W.u. and such enhancements suggest that these 3^? states have an essentially collective character which may be attributed to octupole vibrations.     

Electron scattering from 70Ge and 72Ge

Cross sections have been measured for the elastic and inelastic scattering of electrons from ⁷⁰Ge and ⁷²Ge for momentum transfers from 0.65 to 1.14 fm^?1. Values for the parameters of a Fermi type ground-state charge distribution were obtained from a phase shift analysis of the elastic cross sections. The rms charge radius corresponding to these parameters is 4.07±0.02 fm for ⁷⁰Ge and 4.05±0.03 fm for ⁷²Ge. Using DWBA analysis the reduced transition probabilities for the electroexcitation of the 2₁⁺ and 3₁^? states were found to be: B(E2, ω)↑ = 19.7±1.2, 26.8±2.0 W.u.; B(E3, ω)↑ = 36±5, 37±7 W.u. for ⁷⁰Ge and ⁷²Ge respectively. The J^π = 3^? assignments for the state at 2.562 MeV in ⁷⁰Ge and 2.515 MeV in ⁷²Ge are confirmed.     

The quadrupole moment of 26Mg as a test of shell-model interactions

The static quadrupole moment Q_21⁺, and the B(E2; 0₁⁺ → 2⁺₁) value of the first excited state of²⁶Mg have been measured using the reorientation effect in Coulomb excitation of ²⁶Mg projectiles. It is found that Q_21⁺ = ?13.6±3.0 (?9.5±3.0) e ·fm² and B(E2; 0⁺₁ → 2⁺₁) = 322±16 (328±16) e² ·fm⁴ for constructive (destructive) interference from higher states. The result for Q₂ clearly differentiates among several alternative effective interactions which have been used in shell-model calculations.     

E0 transition and coupling between quadrupole and pairing-vibrational modes

Using a theory of mode-mode coupling between the two-phonon 0⁺ mode and the pairing-vibrational mode, we have extensively investigated the first excited 0⁺(0₂²) states in spherical and transitional nuclei. The results tell us that the 0₂⁺ states in a wide range of nuclei are strongly mixed states of both the modes. By making use of these results, the matrix elements for the E0 transitions from the 0₂⁺ states to the ground states are calculated for the Zn, Ge, Se, Kr, Sr, Zr, Mo, Ru, Pd, Cd and Sn isotopes. For some of the Cd and Sn isotopes, the matrix elements between the 0₂⁺ and 0₂⁺ states are also obtained. These numerical calculations make a rather good fit to the E0 experiments.     

Structure of 74Ge from the 72Ge(t,p) reaction

The reaction ⁷²Ge(t, p)⁷⁴Ge has been investigated with a 15 MeV triton beam. Fifty energy levels of ⁷⁴Ge were identified up to about 4.9 MeV excitation, eighteen of which were previously unreported. Angular distributions were measured and compared with DWBA calculations. Two low-lying states at 1.913 and 2.164 MeV have been assigned as J^π = 0⁺, corresponding to the 0₃⁺ and 0₄⁺ states in ⁷⁴Ge. The 4₂⁺ state has been located at 2.674 MeV, and the 2₄⁺ at 2.836 MeV. Many additional spin and parity assignments have been made. The ⁷⁴Ge nucleus shows a considerably different structure of 0⁺ states compared with the neighboring ⁷⁶Ge and ⁷⁸Ge nuclei, perhaps further evidence for the shape transition suggested recently for the Ge isotopes.     

Properties of the 2' and 2” states in 106, 112, 114Cd

Angular correlations have been measured between γ-rays from the 2 → 2 → 0 cascades in ^106,112,114Cd and the beam of 11.0 MeV α particles effecting Coulomb excitation. Multipole admixtures for the 2 → 2 transitions, as deduced from these correlations, when combined with earlier results establish their B(E2) and B(M1) values. For the transitions from the 1312 and 1208 keV states in ^112,114Cd the B(E2) values in single-particle units are 18±4 and 24±7. These values are typical for transitions from “two-quadrupole-phonon” states in this mass region whereas that of the 1718 keV transition in ¹⁰⁶Cd has the smaller value of 7.0±2.3. The B(E2) values of the 2 → 2 transitions in ^112,114Cd from the 1468 and 1363 keV states are < 0.3 single-particle units. The B(M1) values of all five transitions are ≈ 10^?2$\text{(}\text{e}\text{h}\text{?}\text{2Mc}\text{)}{}^2$.     

Refined interpretation of broadband radiation from a gas-discharge plasma of a krypton-xenon mixture

The earlier interpretation of the broadband continuum observed in the VUV emission spectra of a gas-discharge plasma in a Kr + Xe mixture is refined. On the assumption that this continuum is caused by the bound-free transitions v,0⁺(³ P ₁) → ε, 0⁺(¹ S ₀) in KrXe* and Xe₂ molecules, the distribution of the population over the vibrational levels v of the states 0⁺(³ P ₁) of both molecules is obtained and the vibrational temperature for different methods of excitation of the spectrum is determined. Internuclear potentials 0⁺(³ P ₁) and 0⁺(¹ S ₀) available from the literature are used. To improve the agreement between the calculated and experimental spectra, it is proposed to modify the positive branch of the potential curve 0⁺(¹ S ₀) of the KrXe* molecule.     

Spectroscopic characterization and potential energy functions of the six low-lying electronic states of ArKr+

Pulsed-field-ionization zero-kinetic-energy (PFI-ZEKE) photoelectron spectra of ArKr have been recorded in the wavenumber range 108,000–118,000 cm^?1 using a 1 + 1′ two-photon resonant excitation scheme from the ground X 0⁺ state of ArKr via selected intermediate states located just below the Ar(¹S₀) + Kr([5p[1/2]₀) dissociation limit. The positions of ionic vibrational levels with quantum numbers from 1 to 30, from 0 to 8 and from 0 to 6 were determined for the X(1/2), A₁(3/2) and A₂(1/2) states, respectively. The assignment of absolute vibrational quantum numbers of the ionic states was derived from the isotopic shifts of the spectral lines. Combining these data with literature data on the B(1/2) → X(1/2), C₁(3/2) → A₁(3/2) and C₂(1/2) → A₂(1/2) band systems of ArKr⁺ enabled the derivation of potential energy functions for the lowest six electronic states of ArKr⁺ using a global potential model that includes the effects of the spin-orbit, charge-exchange and long-range interactions.     

Electric moments of the first excited state of 18O

The static quadrupole moment Q_2⁺ and the B(E2; 0⁺ → 2⁺) value of the first excited state of ¹⁸O at e_x = 1.982 MeV have been determined using the reorientation effect in Coulomb excitation. Surface-barrier detectors at laboratory angles of 90° and 174° were used to detect ¹⁸O ions elastically and inelastically scattered from ²⁰⁸Pb. At both angles, we determined experimentally the maximum bombarding energies at which nuclear interference effects were negligible. It is found that Q_⁺ = ?0.023 ± 0.021 e · b (?0.052 ± 0.021 e · b) for destructive (constructive) interference from higher states. This result is in good agreement with theoretical expectation. For the transition moment we find B(E2; 0⁺ → 2⁺) = 0.00390 ± 0.00018 e² · b² (0.00371 ± 0.00018 e² · b²) for destructive (constructive) interference.     

Levels in 156Gd studied in the (n, γ) reaction

Levels up to 2.3 MeV in ¹⁵⁶Gd have been studied using the (n, γ) reaction. Energies and intensities of low-energy γ-rays and electrons emitted after thermal neutron capture have been measured with a curved-crystal spectrometer, Ge(Li) detectors and a magnetic electron spectrometer. High-energy (primary) γ-rays and electrons have been measured with Ge(Li) detectors and a magnetic spectrometer. The high-energy γ-ray spectrum has also been measured in thermal neutron capture in 2 keV resonance neutron capture. The neutron separation energy in ¹⁵⁶Gd was measured as S_n = 8535.8 ± 0.5 keV.About 600 transitions were observed of which ~50% could be placed in a level scheme containing more than 50 levels up to 2.3 MeV excitation energy. 42 of these levels were grouped into 15 excited bands. In addition to the β-band at 1050 keV we observe 0⁺ bands at 1168, 1715 and 1851 keV. Other positive-parity bands are: 1⁺ bands at 1966, 2027 and 2187 keV; 2⁺ bands at 1154 (γ-band) and 1828 keV; and 4⁺ bands at 1511 and 1861 keV. Negative-parity bands are observed at 1243 keV (1^?), 1366 keV (0^?), 1780 keV (2^?) and 2045 keV (4^?). Reduced E2 and E0 transition probabilities have been derived for many transitions. The ground band, the β- and γ-bands and the 0⁺ band at 1168 keV have been included in a phenomenological four-band mixing calculation, which reproduces well the experimental energies and E2 transition probabilities.The lowest three negative-parity (octupole) bands of which the 0^? and the 1^? bands are very strongly mixed, were included in a Coriolis-coupling analysis, which reproduces well the observed energies. The E1 transition probabilities to the ground band are also well reproduced, while those from the higher-lying 0⁺ bands to the octupole bands are not reproduced. Absolute and relative transition probabilities have been compared with predictions of the IBA model and the pairingplus-quadrupole model. Both models reproduce well the E2 transitions from the γ-band, while strong disagreements are found for the E2 transitions from the β-band. The IBA model predicts part of the decay features of the higher lying 2⁺₂, 4⁺₁ and 2^?₁ bands.     

Exotic clustering in 232,234,236,238U

We account for the energies and electromagnetic E2 transitions of the J^π = 0⁺, 2⁺, 4⁺ … ground state bands of ^{232,234,236,238}U, using a model in which these bands are treated in terms of a ²⁴Ne cluster orbiting the appropriate Pb core. The cluster-core potential parameters used are identical to those employed in a previous study of ^222,224,226Ra. In addition to the simultaneous fitting of energies and B(E2) strengths, we also obtain good agreement with the measured half-life for the ²⁴Ne decay of the 0⁺ ground state of ²³²U and ²³⁴U as well as with the measured B(E4 ↑; 0⁺ → 4⁺) transition strengths in ^234,236U. We find that a small parity dependence of the cluster-core potential is required in order to give a good account of the energies of the J^π = 1⁻, 3⁻, 5⁻,… states of the lowest negative parity band of ^{232,234,236,238}U, and of the B(E3 ↑; 0⁺ → 3⁻) strengths in ^234,236,238U.