Electromagnetic transition probabilities between the low-lying states of 203Tl, 205Tl and 209Bi

A high-accuracy investigation of absolute γ-ray yields and angular distributions after Coulomb excitation of ²⁰³Tl, ²⁰⁵Tl and ²⁰⁹Bi allowed the determination of B(E2) and B(M1) values in these nuclei. Some of the data obtained are compared with direct lifetime measurements and internal conversion data. The influence of deorientation effects on our results is discussed. A comparison is made between the experimental transition matrix elements and shell-model and core-coupling-model calculations. The “l-forbidden” M1 transitions, which are caused by core-polarization effects, have strengths of ≈ 10^?3 W.u. In ²⁰⁹Bi the strength of the $\text{f}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>7</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{→}\text{h}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>9</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$. E2 transition is equivalent to a surprisingly large proton polarization charge of (2.8 ± 0.2)e.