Lifetime measurements and decay of superdeformed bands in Hg isotopes

The lifetimes of states in Superdeformed (SD) bands in ^192,194Hg have been measured using the Doppler shift attenuation method. Intrinsic quadrupole moments have been extracted for band 1 of ¹⁹²Hg and for bands 1, 2, and 3 of ¹⁹⁴Hg. It was found that the quadrupole moments for the “identical” SD bands in these nuclei are the same. In the same experiment, one-step transitions linking SD states to yrast and near yrast states for bands 1 and 3 of ¹⁹⁴Hg have been identified. From this observation, excitation energies, spins and probable parities have been assigned to SD states in these bands.     

The decay-out of superdeformed bands in theA=190 region: What have we learned?

One-step decay transitions linking the superdeformed (SD) bands 1 and 3 in¹⁹⁴Hg to yrast levels are discussed. Inter-band transitions between bands 1 and 3 have also been identified. For the first time, the spin, parity and excitation energy have been determined for two SD bands in the same nucleus. The low excitation energy of the excited band supports the view that it is based on an octupole excitation. It is believed that Porter-Thomas fluctuations play a major role in determining the strength of the one-step transitions as suggested by the fact that only one other SD band has been linked in theA=190 mass region (¹⁹⁴Pb) at the present time. When Porter-Thomas fluctuations prevent the observation of one-step or two-step linking transitions, as e.g. in the case of¹⁹²Hg, the analysis of the quasi-continuous part of the decay-out spectrum provides an alternative method for the determination of the excitation energy and spin of an SD band. This method is discussed in detail.     

Superdeformed bands in195Tl

Two superdeformed (SD) bands have been found and assigned to¹⁹⁵Tl on the basis of excitation function and cross bombardment results. The two bands are almost identical in transition energies to those observed in¹⁹³Tl. They are signature partners with a splitting, presumably due to the proton i_13/2 (=5/2) orbital, characteristic of all known SD bands in the thallium isotopes. Their alignments relative to the¹⁹³Tl bands were found to be zero.On leave from Comision National de Energia Atomica 1429 Buenos Aires, Argentina.     

Shape coexistence in187Hg

Excited states of¹⁸⁷Hg have been investigated via the¹⁶⁴Dy (²⁸Si,5n) reaction by means of in- beam gamma-ray spectroscopy using the multidetector 4π away “Ckāteau de. Cristal”. Different bands were populated up to spin I- 45/2. Coexistence of both prolate and oblate structures is observed for the first time in an odd- A Hg isotope. The crossing of aligned and strongly coupled sequences of levels built on the vi13/2 orbital infers the near degeneracy of oblate and prolate structures in¹⁸⁷Hg.     

Quadrupole moments of superdeformed bands in 193Tl

Lifetimes of states in the two strongest superdeformed (SD) bands in ¹⁹³Tl were measured using the Doppler-shift attenuation method. The reaction ¹⁷⁶Yb(²³Na,6n)¹⁹³Tl at a beam energy of 129 MeV was used and γ-rays were detected by the Gammasphere array. Quadrupole moments of 18.3(10) eb and 17.4(10) eb were extracted for SD bands 1 and 2, respectively, using the fractional Doppler-shifts of the SD transitions. The previously reported linking transitions of these SD bands to normal deformed near yrast levels could not be confirmed. No other candidates for linking transitions could be established. Received: 27 April 1999     

High-spin negative parity states in doubly even Hg,Pt and Os nuclei

A systematic study of the level structure of ²⁰⁰Hg, ¹⁹⁸Hg, ¹⁹⁶Hg, ¹⁹⁴Pt, ¹⁹²Pt, ¹⁹⁰Pt, ¹⁸⁸Os, ¹⁸⁶Os and ¹⁸⁴Os has been performed by means of (α, 2nγ) and (p, 2nγ) in-beam γ-ray spectroscopy. Much new information has been obtained about the individual level spectra, and arguments based on level energy and population intensity systematics have been used to trace the behaviour of interesting spectral features through this series of transitional nuclei. Of particular interest is a 5^?, 7^?, 9^? … sequence of levels which appears to be a recurring feature in the spectra of the doubly even Pt and Hg nuclei in the mass range A = 190–200. These negative parity levels are connected by enhanced E2 transitions and they are very strongly populated in the de-excitation of the residual nuclei formed in (α, 2n) reactions. It is proposed that the 5^?, 7^?, 9^? … sequences constitute rotation-aligned bands analogous to the decoupled bands identified by Stephens and co-workers in odd-A transitional nuclei. In the doubly even nuclei, the bands may arise from the coupling of an $\text{i}\text{13}\text{2}$ neutron with a low-j neutron partner (from the $\text{p}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$, $\text{p}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>3</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ and $\text{f}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>5</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ orbitals). Negative parity levels in the Os nuclei are populated much less strongly in the (α, 2nγ) reactions. While 5^? levels corresponding to those in the Pt and Hg nuclei appear to be fairly well established in ¹⁸⁶Os, ¹⁸⁸Os (and ¹⁹⁰Os), it is not yet clear whether the 5^?, 7^?, 9^? … band sequence extends into the Os nuclei.     

Decoupled bands in odd-mass mercury isotopes

The schemes of the low-lying high-spin states in mercury isotopes with A = 195, 197, and 199 have been studied by γ-ray spectroscopy following (α, xn) reactions on separated platinum targets. Two bands have been excited in each Hg nucleus, one with positive parity based on the isomeric i$\text{13}\text{2}$. state and one, probably with negative parity, starting at spin $\text{case21}\text{2}$. The positive-parity states are interpreted with the rotation-aligned coupling scheme as decoupled bands; this implies oblate deformation in these three Hg isotopes. The negative-parity states are discussed as a decoupled i$\text{13}\text{2}$ neutron state coupled to the 5^?, 7^?, 9^?,…states, recently discovered in doubly even mercury isotopes.     

Multiple coulomb excitation of202Hg and204Hg

Multiple Coulomb excitation measurements on^{202, 204}Hg have been performed with 5 MeV/u²⁰⁸Pb projectiles. The ground bands are excited up to the newly discovered 6⁺ states and B(E2) values are derived for the 4⁺→2⁺ and 6⁺→4⁺ transitions. Whereas the 2⁺ and 4⁺ levels in the Hg isotopes with 196≦A≦204 have an almost constant energy, the 6⁺ levels increase in²⁰²Hg and²⁰⁴Hg, compared to the lighter isotopes, by approximately 100 and 300 keV, respectively. The relative B(E2) values in both nuclei show that the collectivity in the neutron rich Hg nuclei is of more complex origin than expected from the few proton and neutron holes with respect to the 82 and 126 major shells.     

Systematic study of rotational energy formulae for superdeformed bands in La and Ce isotopes

The experimental rotational spectra of superdeformed(SD) bands of ~(130)La, ~(131)Ce(1,2), ~(132)Ce(1,2,3) and133 Ce(1,2,3) in the A～130 mass region are systematically analyzed with the four parameter formula, power index formula, nuclear softness formula, and VMI model. It is observed that out of all the formulae, the four parameter formula suits best for the study of the ~(130)La, ~(131)Ce(1,2), ~(132)Ce(2,3) and ~(133)Ce(1,2,3) SD bands. The four parameter formula works efficiently in determining the band head spin of the ~(130)La, ~(131)Ce(1,2) ~(132)Ce(2,3) and ~(133)Ce(1,2,3) SD bands. Good agreement is seen between the calculated and observed transition energies whenever the accurate spin is assigned. In ~(132)Ce(1), the power index formula is found to work better than the other three formulae. The dynamic moment of inertia is also calculated for all the formulae and its variation with the rotational frequency is investigated.     

Investigation of196,198Pt and202,204Hg with the (d,pnγ) reaction

Gamma-ray and conversion electron spectra were measured in the reaction of 25 MeV deuterons on¹⁷⁴Yb,^196,198Pt,^202,204Hg, and²³²Th. The (d,pxn) deuteron break-up reactions were studied by the measurement ofpγ- andγγ-coincidences. Levels with spins up to approximately 10? are observed in the (d,pn) reactions, with a strong preference of the population of yrast states. In the Pt and Hg nuclei the ground bands are seen up to the 6⁺ states and in^196,198pt the semi-decoupled 5^?, 7^?, and 9^? yrast levels are populated most strongly. In^202,204Hg we observe fairly strongly new levels with tentative assignments of 5^? and 7^?. In addition a number of previously unknown levels are identified in the Pt and Hg nuclei, for which no spin-parity assignments could be obtained. A discussion of the level structure in terms of the interacting boson model (^196,198Pt) and the shell model (^202,204Hg) is given.     

Observation of superdeformed bands in194Hg

Two rotational bands, with energy spacings characteristic of superdeformed shapes, have been observed following bombardment of¹⁵⁰Nd with⁴⁸Ca. The more intensively populated band consists of 18 transitions and is assigned to¹⁹⁴Hg. The depopulation of this band occurs around spin 10. The second band, consisting of at least 16 transitions, was populated less strongly and is tentatively assigned to¹⁹⁴Hg also. The lowest level in this band is assigned spin 8. The energy differences between transitions for both bands decrease from ～40 keV at low rotational frequencies to ～30 keV at the highest observed frequencies. The moments of inertia of the bands are similar to those of the two previously observed superdeformed bands in^191,192Hg. The similarities and differences of the four known bands in the mercury region are discussed.     

Octupole vibrations of the superdeformed196Pb nucleus

The study of the superdeformed (SD)¹⁹⁶Pb nucleus has been revisited using the Eurogam Phase 2 spectrometer. All of the three observed excited SD bands were found to decay to the yrast SD band through, presumably,E1 transitions, allowing relative spin and excitation energy assignments. Comparisons with calculations using the random-phase approximation suggest that all three excited bands can be interpreted as octupole vibrational structures.     

Superdeformed bands in153Ho

In a recent experiment carried out with theEurogam Phase II γ-ray spectrometer three new superdeformed (SD) bands have been established in¹⁵³Ho. The properties of these SD bands are discussed in terms of proton particle-hole excitations and are compared to the SD bands in the adjacent nuclei. This is the first observation of SD structures in aZ=67 nucleus.     

High spin investigation in 193Pb with EUROGAM 2: coexistence of superdeformed and dipole bands

The nucleus ¹⁹³Pb was populated via the ¹⁶⁸Er(³⁰Si, 5n) reaction at a beam energy of 159 MeV and studied with the EUROGAM II spectrometer. Five new dipole ΔI = 1 cascades have been found. The ¹⁹³Pb dipole bands are discussed in terms of microscopic HF+BCS calculations. The proposed configurations are based on a high-K two-quasiproton excitation coupled to rotation aligned quasineutrons. Parallel to the dipole bands the six superdeformed bands have been discussed in the framework of microscopic mean-field calculations. The bands are interpreted as three pairs of signature partners based on quasineutron excitations. Cross-talk transitions linking two signature partner superdeformed bands have been observed and, for the first time in lead isotopes, a mean B(M1)/B(E2) ratio value of 0.15±0.04 μ _N ² /e^2b2 has been extracted.     

Backbendings of superdeformed bands in ~(36,40)Ar

Experimentally observed superdeformed(SD) rotational bands in ~(36)Ar and ~(40)Ar are studied by the cranked shell model(CSM) with the pairing correlations treated by a particle-number-conserving(PNC) method.This is the first time that PNC-CSM calculations have been performed on the light nuclear mass region around A=40.The experimental kinematic moments of inertia J~((1))versus rotational frequency are reproduced well. The backbending of the SD band at frequency around ω =1.5 Me V in ~(36)Ar is attributed to the sharp rise of the simultaneous alignments of the neutron and proton 1 d_(5/2)[202]5/2 pairs and 1 f_(7/2)[321]3/2 pairs, which is a consequence of the band crossing between the 1 d_(5/2)[202]5/2 and 1 f_(7/2)[321]3/2 configuration states. The gentle upbending at low frequency of the SD band in ~(40)Ar is mainly affected by the alignments of the neutron 1 f_(7/2)[321]3/2 pairs and proton 1 d_(5/2)[202]5/2 pairs.The PNC-CSM calculations show that besides the diagonal parts, the off-diagonal parts of the alignments play an important role in the rotational behavior of the SD bands.     

Rotation aligned bands and configuration dependent interaction in189Hg

High spin states in¹⁸⁹Hg have been studied using the¹⁸¹Ta(¹⁴N, 6n) reaction. The various one- and three-quasiparticle rotational bands were interpreted within the cranked shell model. The band-crossing frequencies are found to depend on the number of spectator particles. The effect can be accounted for by a residual two-body interaction of appr. ?0.11 MeV.     

Identical superdeformed bands

The phenomenon of identical bands is studied by analyzing the distributions of fractional changes in the dynamical moments of inertia of pairs of bands in superdeformed (SD) nuclei. These distributions are found to exhibit a peak with a centroid at nearly zero. Their widths increase in going from the SD bands in the massA～150, to the SD bands in the mass ～190 and to the normally-deformed bands in the rare-earth region. These differences may be attributed to the weaker pairing correlations and the stabilizing role of intruder orbitals on the structures of SD bands. Precise level lifetimes have been measured for various pairs of identical SD bands in Gd and Dy isotopes. By comparing the derived quadrupole moments with calculations performed in the framework of the cranking Skyrme-Hartree-Fock model, it is shown that, independently of the intrinsic configuration and of the proton and neutron numbers, the charge moments calculated with respect to the doubly-magic SD core of¹⁵²Dy can be expressed in terms of independent contributions from the individual hole and particle orbitals.     

Gammasphere results — A californian perspective

The latest experimental data from GAMMASPHERE is presented for, (i) M1 Bands — a characteristic decrease in the B(M1) values is observed and given as evidence for the TAC model, (ii) δI = 2 Stagger in ¹⁹⁴Hg-this new data is compared with the previous results, (iii) Observation of discrete gamma-ray links in ¹⁹⁴Pb-yielding an unambiguous determination of spins and excitation energies, (iv) Comparative lifetime measurements in the superdeformed bands in ¹⁹³Hg and ¹⁹²Hg-differences in the fractional shift curves are observed between ¹⁹³Hg and ¹⁹²Hg.     

New results on the superdeformed 196Pb nucleus: decay of the excited bands to the yrast band

The study of the superdeformed ¹⁹⁶Pb nucleus has been revisited using the EUROGAMphase 2 array. In addition to the known yrast and two excited SD bands, a third excited SD band has been found. All of the three excited bands were found to decay to the yrast SD band through presumably E1 transitions. Comparisons with calculations using RPAapproximation indicate that the excited bands can be interpreted as octupole-vibrational structures.     

Study for Superdeformed Bands in A～190 Region with Quantum Group Uqp(u2) Model

superdeformed bands in the A～190 region are systematically analyzed by using the twoparameter expansion of quantum group U_qp(u₂) Model. The calculated results of E2 transition γ ray energies are in agreement with experimental data. According to three different methods for the spin assignment of rotational bands, the spin values of the band head I₀ of the yrast SD bands in ¹⁹⁴Hg(1) and ¹⁹⁴Pb(1) are assigned. Furthermore, the physical meaning of the nuclear softness is discussed, and these nuclear softness values of a signature partner are almost equal.