Isomeric states and rotational structure in the doubly-odd nucleus176Ta

The doubly-odd nucleus¹⁷⁶Ta is investigated by means of in-beamγ-ray spectroscopy techniques using the reactions (α, 3n), (d, 2n) and (p, n). Life-time measurements in thens-region yield low-lying isomeric states withT _1/2=13±1 ns and 30.5±1 ns, while measurements in the ms-region show the existence of a 1.1±0.1 ms isomeric state. A rotational sequence, withK=5 or 6 for the band-head, is also observed.     

Doubly decoupled bands in176, 178Re

High spin states in^{176, 178}Re have been studied using in-beam γ and e^? spectroscopy techniques through heavy ion induced fusion reactions. A ΔI=2 rotational band of doubly decoupled type has been identified in each isotope.     

New rotational bands in 174Ta

Three new bands in ¹⁷⁴Ta have been identified by using the ¹⁶⁰Gd(¹⁹F,5n) reaction at beam energies of 87 MeV and 96 MeV. Nilsson configurations are assigned to these bands. In the 9/2⁻[514]_p+5/2⁻[512]_n band, the AB neutron crossing occurs at a rotational frequency of 0.30 MeV. This is indicative of the disappearance of the evidence for a reduction in neutron pair correlations. Received: 30 March 1998     

Multi-quasiparticle isomers and rotational bands in 178W

The high spin structure of the nucleus ¹⁷⁸W has been studied following the ¹⁷⁰Er(¹³C,5n) reaction. Many previously unidentified rotational bands are seen based on high-K, 2-, 4-, 6- and 8-quasiparticle structures, some of which are isomeric. The excitation energies of the multi-quasiparticle bandheads are compared with BCS calculations, including residual interactions. The bands show substantial increases in moments-of-inertia with increasing quasiparticle number. These are examined in terms of pairing blocking. The effect of blocked pairing is also taken into account in the calculation of g-factors, which supports the configuration assignments. The K^π = 25⁺, 8-quasiparticle band forms the yrast line from its bandhead upwards. This bandhead is a 220 ns isomer whose decay is strongly hindered, compared to the decay of the four- and six-quasiparticle structures.     

Intrinsic and rotational states in 173Ta

High spin rotational levels in ¹⁷³Ta are populated in the ¹⁶⁵Ho(¹²C, 4n)¹⁷³Ta and ¹⁷⁵Lu(α, 6n)¹⁷³Ta reactions. The de-excitation γ-ray cascades are studied with Ge(Li) detectors. The rotational bands, which are built on the $\text{7}\text{2}$⁺(404), $\text{5}\text{2}$⁺(402), $\text{9}\text{2}$^?(514) and $\text{1}\text{2}$^?(541) intrinsic states, are identified up to high spin values. A state, interpreted as a three quasi-particle state with a probable spin of $\text{21}\text{2}$ is located at 1713 keV. Its half-life is about 100 ns. The behaviour of the moment of inertia of each rotational band versus the rotational frequency is compared with that of the doubly even core.     

Intrinsic states,high-spin rotational bands and rotation alignment in 177Os and 179Os

Low-lying intrinsic states and their associated rotational bands have been identified in ¹⁷⁷Os and ¹⁷⁹Os. They are the mixed i_{$\text{13}\text{2}$} neutron states and the $\text{1}\text{2}$^?[521] states in ¹⁷⁷Os and ¹⁷⁹Os, as well as the $\text{5}\text{2}$^?[512] state in ¹⁷⁷Os and the $\text{7}\text{2}$^?[514] state in ¹⁷⁹Os. The $\text{1}\text{2}$^? sta is assumed to be the ground state, the other intrinsic states giving rise to isomers. The in-band decay properties of the $\text{7}\text{2}$^?[514] band, and the i_{$\text{13}\text{2}$} bands show the effect of mixing. In the rotational bands in ¹⁷⁷Os a low frequency backbending anomaly is observed but no anomaly is observed in the i_{$\text{13}\text{2}$}. band. In ¹⁷⁹Os the i_{$\text{13}\text{2}$} band does backbend but at a higher frequency than in the yrast bands of the even neighbours. The systematics of the backbending frequencies, and the effects of blocking, are discussed. The rotation aligned angular momentum is deduced, and a comparison made between the i_{$\text{13}\text{2}$} bands and the s-bands in the even neighbours. The results broadly support the identification of the s-bands with the aligned (i_{$\text{13}\text{2}$})² configuration.     

g-factors of rotational states in176Hf,177Hf,and180Hf

g-factors of rotational states in¹⁷⁶Hf and¹⁸⁰Hf were measured with the twelve detector IPAC-apparatus of our laboratory [1]. The natural radioactivity 3.78·10¹⁰y¹⁷⁶Lu and the 5.5 h isomer^180mHf were used which populate the ground-state rotational bands of¹⁷⁶Hf and¹⁸⁰Hf. The integral rotations ofγ-γ directional correlations in strong external magnetic fields and in static hyperfine fields of (Lu→Hf)Fe₂ and HfFe₂ were observed. The following results were obtained: $$\begin{array}{l} ^{176} Hf: g\left( {4_1^ + } \right) = + 0.334\left( {38} \right) \\ ^{180} Hf: g\left( {2_1^ + } \right) = + 0.305\left( {14} \right) \\ g\left( {4_1^ + } \right) = + 0.358\left( {43} \right) \\ {{ g\left( {6_1^ + } \right)} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{ g\left( {6_1^ + } \right)} {g\left( {4_1^ + } \right)}}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {g\left( {4_1^ + } \right)}} = + 0.95\left( {12} \right) \\ \end{array}$$ . The hyperfine field in (Lu→Hf)Fe₂ was calibrated by observing the integral rotation of the 9/2^? first excited state of¹⁷⁷Hf populated in the decay of 6.7d¹⁷⁷Lu. Theg-factor of this state was redetermined in an external magnetic field as $$^{177} Hf: g\left( {{9 \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {9 {2^ - }}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {2^ - }}} \right) = + 0.228\left( 7 \right)$$ . Finally theg-factor of the 2 ₁ ⁺ state of¹⁷⁶Hf was derived from the measuredg(2 ₁ ⁺ ) of¹⁸⁰Hf by use of the precisely known ratiog(2 ₁ ⁺ ,¹⁷⁶Hf)/g(2 ₁ ⁺ ,¹⁸⁰Hf) [2] as $$^{176} Hf: g\left( {2_1^ + } \right) = + 0.315\left( {30} \right)$$ .     

g-factors of rotational states in 176Hf, 177Hf,and 180Hf

g-factors of rotational states in ¹⁷⁶Hf and ¹⁸⁰Hf were measured with the twelve detector IPAC-apparatus of our laboratory [1]. The natural radioactivity 3.78 · 10¹⁰y ¹⁷⁶Lu and the 5.5 h isomer ^180mHf were used which populate the ground-state rotational bands of ¹⁷⁶Hf and ¹⁸⁰Hf. The integral rotations of γ-γ directional correlations in strong external magnetic fields and in static hyperfine fields of (Lu → Hf)Fe₂ and HfFe₂ were observed. The following results were obtained: The hyperfine field in (Lu → Hf)Fe₂ was calibrated by observing the integral rotation of the 9/2^? first excited state of ¹⁷⁷Hf populated in the decay of 6.7d ¹⁷⁷Lu. The g-factor of this state was redetermined in an external magnetic field as Finally the g-factor of the 2 ₁ ⁺ state of ¹⁷⁶Hf was derived from the measured g(2 ₁ ⁺ ) of ¹⁸⁰Hf by use of the precisely known ratio g(2 ₁ ⁺ , ¹⁷⁶Hf)/g(2₁ ⁺, ¹⁸⁰Hf) [2] as      

Rotational bands in 181Ta

High-spin states in ¹⁸¹Ta have been studied via the ¹⁷⁶Yb(¹¹B,α2n) reaction at 52 MeV using the PEX array and at 57 MeV using the NORDBALL array, with α-particle detection. The previously known, K^π=(7/2)⁺ ground state band and K^π=(9/2)⁻ band have been extended to spins (29/2)⁺ and (31/2)⁻, respectively. Two new one-quasiparticle bands, the K^π=(5/2)⁺ band built on the known (5/2)⁺ isomer and a K^π=((1/2)⁻) band have been observed. Two other rotational bands with three-quasiparticle structure, K^π=(15/2)⁻ and ((19/2)⁺ with π(7/2)[404]ν²(1/2)[510](9/2)[624] and π(9/2)[514]ν²(1/2)[510](9/2)[624] configurations, respectively, have been newly observed. The half-life of the K^π=((19/2)⁺) bandhead which decays to the head of the (15/2)⁻ band has been measured to be 140(36) ns. However, transitions from the ((19/2)⁺) state to the (15/2)⁻ band have not been observed. Received: 26 August 1998     

One- and three-quasiparticle states in 171Hf and high spin rotational bands

The $\text{1}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{[521]}\text{and}\text{7}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{[633]}$ one-quasiparticle bands in the N = 99 nucleus ¹⁷¹Hf have been identified to spins of about $\text{45}\text{2}$ using (heavy ion, xn) reactions. The moments of inertia of these bands are consistent with the absence of backbending in the N = 98 core nucleus. The half-life of the $\text{5}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{[512]}$ intrinsic state was measured as 63.6 ns. The strength of the $\text{5}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{[512] →}\text{7}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{[633]}\text{E}\text{1}$ transition is discussed. Two three-quasiparticle isomers with spins and parities $\text{19}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{and}\text{23}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$ have been identified and their suggested configurations are a $\text{7}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{[633]}$ neutron added to the 6⁺ and 8^? two-quasiproton states of the core. The moment of inertia of a rotational band based on the $\text{23}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$ isomer supports this suggestion, and shows the effect of partial rotation alignment of the $\text{i}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>13</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ neutron.     

The identical bands in177Ta

The [402]5/2 bands in¹⁷⁷Ta which are identical to the neighboring even-even¹⁷⁶Hf groundstate band have been extended to higher angular momentum. These bands in the two nuclei are seen to diverge from each other in the region of the first i_13/2 neutron alignment. The lower observed crossing frequency for the [402]5/2 bands indicates a lower deformation for these bands compared to¹⁷⁶Hf. Extensions to theh _9/2 [541]1/2 yrast band are also reported.Special thanks to D.C. Radford, It. MacLeod, W.T. Milner and R. Books for their invaluable software support. Thanks also to F.K. McGowan and R. Darlington for their help with the targets. This work was supported by the National Science Foundation and the State of Florida and by the UK Science and Engineering Research Council. MAR and JS acknowledge the receipt of a NATO Collaborative Research Grant.     

High-spin yrast and non-yrast bands in 176Os, 178Os and 180Os

High-spin yrast and non-yrast states have been identified in ¹⁷⁶Os, ¹⁷⁸Os and ¹⁸⁰Os using (¹⁶O, xn) reactions, and γ-ray techniques. Band crossing anomalies are observed in each of the positive-parity yrast bands. The magnitude of these anomalies decreases with decreasing neutron number, an effect attributed to the change in the moment of inertia of the ground state rotational bands. A 23 ns isomer, predominantly K^π = 7^?, is identified at 1930 keV in ¹⁸⁰Os. The configuration of this isomer is discussed on the basis of the properties of its rotational band. Negative parity, odd and even spin, sideband sequences are observed in each isotope. Their relationship to rotation-aligned octupole and 2-quasiparticle bands is discussed from their excitation energies, band spacings, and decay properties. Detailed calculations for Coriolis mixed bands are carried out for the likely 2-quasiproton and 2-quasineutron configurations. An anomaly observed at spin 17 in the odd-spin negative-parity sequence in ¹⁸⁰Os is attributed to a band crossing with a fourquasiparticle configuration.     

From discrete rotational bands to damped rotational motion

We present shell model calculations for warm rotating nuclei, combining the cranked Nilsson mean field and a residual surface-delta two-body interaction. The model is used to describe the transition from the region of well-defined rotational bands into the region dominated by rotational damping, and the results are in overall agreement with the experimental findings.     

Signature splitting in two quasiparticle rotational bands of <Superscript>180,182</Superscript>Ta

The signature splittings in K^π = 1 ⁺: 7 /2[404] _π?9 /2[624] _ν, K^π = 0^?: 9 /2[514] _π?9 /2[624] _ν bands of ¹⁸⁰Ta and K^π = 0^?: 7 /2[404] _π?7 /2[503] _ν, K^π = 1^?: 5 /2[402] _π?3 /2[512] _ν, K^π = 1⁺: 7 /2[404] _π?9 /2[624] _ν bands of ¹⁸²Ta are analysed within the framework of two-quasiparticle rotor model. The phase as well as magnitude of the experimentally observed signature splitting in K^π = 1⁺ band of ¹⁸⁰Ta, which could not be explained in earlier calculations, is successfully reproduced. The conflict regarding placement of a 12 ⁺ level in K^π = 1 ⁺: 7 /2 ⁺[404] _π?9 /2 ⁺[624] _ν ground-state rotational band of ¹⁸⁰Ta is resolved and tentative nature of K^π = 0^?: 7 /2[404] _π?7 /2[503] _ν, K^π = 1⁺: 7 /2[404] _π?9 /2[624] _ν bands observed in ¹⁸²Ta is confirmed. As a future prediction for experimentalists, these two-quasiparticle structures observed in ¹⁸⁰Ta and ¹⁸²Ta are extended to higher spins.     

Signature splitting in magnetic rotational bands

Nearly-spherical nuclei in three mass regions have recently been observed to exhibit rotational-like features. We have identified almost 80 such bands; largest number (43) lie in the lead region. Most of these bands are assigned oblate multi-quasiparticle configurations. Their interpretation in terms of ‘magnetic rotation’ does not allow for signature splitting in these bands. We have however found signature splitting as well as signature inversion in many bands. We apply the two-quasiparticle plus rotor model to understand the occurrence of signature splitting vis-a-vis the role of ‘shears mechanism’ in these bands.     

Multi-quasiparticle rotational bands in neutron-rich erbium isotopes

Multi-quasiparticle states and rotational bands in neutron-rich erbium isotopes have been investigated by the configuration-constrained pairing-deformation-frequency self-consistent total-Routhian-surface (TRS) method with particle-number-conserved pairing. Specifically, the recently observed Kn=4-bands in 168,170,172 Er have been found to experience a configuration change in our calculation. Some other multi-quasiparticle states with uncertain configuration assignments have been reinvestigated by calculating their collective rotations. The configuration-constrained TRS calculation can reproduce experimental data consistently.     

Evidence for rotational bands in103Nb

The nucleus¹⁰³ Nb ₆₂ has been studied through the ß^? decay of the fission product¹⁰³Zr at LOHENGRIN and JOSEF. The energies of the lowlying levels and the γ transitions indicate rotational bands based on the Nilsson proton configurations [422 5/2⁺] [303 5/2^?] and [301 3/2^?] at 0, 164 and 248 keV, respectively. The measured half-lives of (4.7±0.5) ns and (2.0±0.6) ns of the levels at 164 and 248 keV are consistent with the Nilsson-model estimates including pairing.     

Structure of rotational bands in 253No

In-beam gamma-ray and conversion electron spectroscopic studies have been performed on the ²⁵³ No nucleus. A strongly coupled rotational band has been identified and the improved statistics allows an assignment of the band structure as built on the $\ensuremath 9/2^-[734]_{\nu}$ ground state. The results agree with previously known transition energies but disagree with the tentative structural assignments made in earlier work.     

High spin rotational bands in 65Zn

The nucleus ₃₀ ⁶⁵ Zn was studied using the ⁵²Cr(¹⁶O, 2pn)⁶⁵Zn reaction at a beam energy of 65 MeV. The level scheme is extended up to an excitation energy of 10.57 MeV for spin-parity (41/2?) with several newly observed transitions placed in it.