Nuclear levels in228Th populated in the decay of228Pa

The electron-capture decay of²²⁸Pa to levels in²²⁸Th has been studied using mass-separated sources and high-resolutionγ-ray and conversion-electron spectroscopy. A level at 979.5 keV is assigned as 2⁺ member of a second excited K_π=0⁺ band, with the 0⁺ band head at 938.6 keV. The 2⁺ and 3⁺ members of a second excited K_π=2⁺ band at 1153.5 and 1200.5 keV, which decay by strongE0 transitions to the 969 keVγ-vibrational band, are confirmed. In addition we tentatively propose a K_π=1⁺ band at 944 keV. The K_π=0^?, 1^? and 2^? members of the octupole quadruplet are confirmed, and theγ decay of these levels is analysed in an approach, in which the mixing of the octupole bands by the Coriolis interaction is taken into account. It is suggested that octupole correlations might be important for theE1 transition moments. A total of 29 levels is observed between ～1.4 and ～2.0 MeV, for which the nuclear structure, and the possible assignment to rotational bands, is unclear.     

In-beam spectroscopy of thek π=0− bands in230–236U

TheK ^π=0^? bands in even uranium nuclei were studied in the compound reactions²³¹Pa(p, 2n)²³⁰U,^{230, 232}Th(α,2n)^{232, 234}U and²³⁶U(d, pn)²³⁶U. In-beamγ-rays were measured in coincidence with conversion-electrons, which were detected with an iron-free orange spectrometer. The negative-parity levels are observed up to intermediate spins (I<13^?). In addition, the 1^? and 3^? levels in²³⁰U were confirmed by a decay study with an isotope separated²³⁰Pa source. For the heavier isotopes (A≥232) the properties of theK ^π=0^? bands (energies andγ-branchings) are consistent with a vibrational character of these bands. For²³⁰U theK ^π=0^? band lies at rather low energy (E(1^?)=367 keV), and the level spacings within this band are very similar to those of the isotones²²⁸Th and²²⁶Ra, which might indicate the onset of a stable octupole deformation.     

Level structure of 184W from the 183W(n, γ) reaction

The level structure of ¹⁸⁴W has been studied from the prompt γ-rays emitted following the capture of both thermal and 2 keV neutrons by ¹⁸³W. Energies and intensities were measured for both the primary and the secondary (low-energy) prompt γ-rays. From these data, a level scheme is proposed for ¹⁸⁴W in which all the I^π = 0⁺, 1⁺ and 2⁺ states below ≈ 2.0 MeV are observed. Where possible, rotational-band assignments have been made to these and other levels. Additional evidence is presented which confirms the 1130 keV state as being the band head of a K^π = 2^? octupole vibrational band. Admixed K^π = 0⁺ and 2⁺ bands are established at 1322 and 1386 keV, respectively, with the I^π = 2⁺ states (at 1431 and 1386 keV) having a mutual admixture of ≈ 12%. In the energy region above 1.5 MeV, the following bands and band-head energies are identified: K^π = 1⁺, 1613 keV; K^π = 0⁺, 1614 keV; K^π = 1⁺, 1713 keV; K^π = 2⁺, 1877 keV. The neutron binding energy in ¹⁸⁴W has been determined to be 7411.1±0.6 keV. The band structure of the 1613 keV (1⁺) and 1614 keV (0⁺) bands is observed to be strongly distorted, the observed $\text{A (}\text{h}\text{?}{}^2\text{/2}\text{I}\text{)}$ values being ≈ 3.6 keV and ≈ 32 keV, respectively. This strong distortion is shown to be explainable in terms of Coriolis coupling of reasonable strength between the two bands. A similar explanation is shown to account for the somewhat less anomalous A-values (22.8 keV and 14.0 keV, respectively) of the 2⁺ band at 1386 keV and the 3⁺ band at 1425 keV. The results of a phenomenological fiveband-mixing analysis involving the K^π = 0⁺ and 2⁺ bands below ≈ 1.5 MeV are presented and discussed. These calculations indicate, among other things, that the direct E2 matrix element connecting the 1322 keV, K^π = 0⁺ band and the ground-state band is quite small, possibly zero. They also indicate that a nonzero E2 matrix element exists between this excited K^π = 0⁺ band and the γ-vibrational band and that the magnitude of this element is comparable with that between the γ-vibrational and ground-state bands. Arguments favoring and apparently refuting the interpretation of the 1322 keV, 0⁺ band as a “two-phonon γ-vibration” are presented.     

Structure of high-spin states in 232Th, 234U and 236U

Multiple Coulomb excitation of ²³²Th, ²³⁴U and ²³⁶U by 5.3 $\text{MeV}\text{u}$²⁰⁸Pb ions has been studied using γ-ray spectroscopy. Excitation of ground-band levels is observed up to spin I^π = 26⁺ (tentatively 28 ⁺) in ²³²Th and ²³⁴U and I^π = 28⁺ (tentatively 30⁺)in ²³⁶U. High-spin levels of the K^π = 0^? octupole-vibrational bands are also observed in these nuclei. The measured transition energies between ground-band levels suggest that at $\text{I≈ 28}\text{h}\text{?}$ several units of angular momentum are carried by single particles aligned with the rotation axis.This result can be understood in terms of a super band built on aligned two-quasiparticle configurations which crosses the ground-state rotational band at a rotational frequency of $\text{h}\text{?}\text{ω ? 0.25}\text{MeV}\text{(I ? 28}\text{h}\text{?}\text{)}$. The E2 transition-matrix elements deduced from the experimental γ-yields agree within their errors with the rigid-rotor predictions up to the highest spins observed.The experimental results are discussed using the concept of rotation alignment and are compared with predictions of the rotation-vibration model and the interacting-boson model.     

Collective and two-quasiparticle states in 158Gd observed through study of radiative neutron capture in 157Gd

The level structure of ¹⁵⁸Gd has been studied using the prompt γ-rays and conversion electrons emitted following neutron capture in ¹⁵⁷Gd. The γ-ray energy and intensity measurements were made using both Ge(Li) detectors and a curved-crystal spectrometer. Conversion-electron energy and intensity measurements were made using two separate magnetic spectrometers: one to measure the primary electron spectrum and the other to measure the lower energy secondary electron spectrum. Some γ-γ coincidence measurements were also made among the secondary γ-rays. From these data, a neutron separation energy of 7937.1 ± 0.5 keV has been determined for ¹⁵⁸Gd. A level scheme containing 59 excited states with energies < 2.25 MeV, for which de-excitation modes have been identified, is proposed for ¹⁵⁸Gd. Many of these states have been grouped into rotational bands. A total of thirteen excited rotational bands with band-head energies below 2.0 MeV are contained in the level scheme. Features of the proposed level scheme include: the K^π = 0^?, 1^? and 2^? octupole-vibrational bands with band-head energies of 1263, 977 and 1793 keV, respectively; the γ-vibrational band at 1187 keV; three excited K^π = 0⁺ bands with band-head energies of 1196, 1452 and 1743 keV; several two-quasiparticle bands with band-head energies in keV (and K^π assignments) of 1380 (4⁺), 1636 (4^?), 1847 (1⁺), 1856 (1^?), 1920 (4⁺) and 1930 (1⁺). An analysis of (d, p) reaction data is presented which permits definite two-quasiparticle configuration assignments to be made to most of these latter bands. Evidence is presented which suggests strong mixing of some two-neutron and two-proton bands. A phenomenological four-band mixing analysis is made of the energy and E2 transition-probability data for the ground-state band and the three lowest-lying excited collective positive-parity bands. Good agreement with experiment is obtained. A Coriolis-mixing analysis of the octupole bands has been carried out and good agreement with the data on level energies and E1 transition probabilities to the ground-state band has been achieved. Values of Z, the ratio of the E1 transition matrix element with ΔK = 1 to that with ΔK = 0, involving the octupole bands and the first four 0⁺ bands are derived. For three of these 0⁺ bands, absolute values of these matrix elements are deduced. An interesting alternation in the sign of Z is observed for these four 0⁺ bands.     

On the octupole excitation in236U

Measurements of theK,L _I,L _II andM _I conversion lines of the 687.7 keV transition in²³⁶U are evaluated within the electron penetration formalism. The spin-parity assignment of the octupole bandhead is found to be 1^? in accordance with reaction data, and an assignment of 2^? to the 687.7 keV state is ruled out. The penetration matrix element ∥η∥ has the value of 13.5 for theK-shell and increases slightly for higher main shells. An estimate of the anomalous amplitudes is compared with values reported for transitions in the odd even actinide nuclei. Furthermore electron conversion data for the 1^?→2⁺ and 1^?→4⁺ transitions are given. Radioactivity²³⁶U from²³⁵U(n,e ^?); measured: conversion electron decay; deduced: conversion coefficients fromK, L andM shells; evaluated: dynamic matrix elements.     

The decay scheme of 228Fr and K = 0 BANDS in 228Ra

The γ-rays following the β^?-decay of ²²⁸Fr have been studied by means of γ-ray singles including multi-spectrum analysis and γ-γ coincidence measurements using Ge(Li) spectrometers. Most of the observed γ-transitions could be placed in the level scheme of ²²⁸Ra. The accuracy the energy of the first-excited state in ²²⁸Ra has been improved and 35 new excited levels have been established, 11 of them grouped into the ground-state band, the low-lying K^π = 0^? band with the head at 474.14 keV and two excited K^π = 0⁺ bands with heads at 721.17 and 1041.9 keV. Candidates for two close-lying K^π = 2⁺ bands have also been found. It is concluded that the ground state octupole deformation, if any, is less pronounced in ²²⁸Ra than in lighter radium isotopes.     

Study of low-lying 0+ excitations in228Th and232,234,236U in the (p,t) reaction

The (p, t) reaction was studied at 22 MeV proton energy using targets of^230,232Th and^234,236,238U. In²²⁸Th we observed in addition to the 832 keV first-excited 0⁺ level a second-excited 0⁺ level at 939 keV populated with 5% of the ground-state strength. A 0⁺ level proposed recently in²³²U at 927 keV was not observed in the (p, t) reaction, with an upper limit for its excitation of 0.2% of the ground-state strength. In²³⁴U a level at 1045 keV, assigned in the literature as second-excited 0⁺ level, is weakly populated in the (p, t) reaction but does not show the angular distribution characteristic for single-stepL=0 transfer. In²³⁶U we observed a level at 1036 keV with an angular distribution suggesting that it might be a doublet composed of a known 3^? level and a new 0⁺ level. The properties of the first two excited 0⁺ bands in²²⁸Th,²³²U and²³⁴U are compared and discussed.     

Investigation of vibrational levels in 226Ra by Coulomb excitation and by the 226Ra (d,pnγ) reaction

Vibrational bands in ²²⁶Ra were studied by Coulomb excitation and by the ²²⁶Ra(d,pnγ) reaction. The first-excited K ^π = 0⁺ and 1^? bands with known band heads at 825 and 1049 keV, respectively, were extended up to the 8⁺ and 7^? levels. A new 2⁺ level at 1110 keV and the known 2⁺ level at 1156 keV were observed following Coulomb excitation and interpreted as γ vibration and possible member of a second-exited K ^π = 0⁺ band, respectively. The E1 and E2 branching ratios from these vibrational bands to the ground and first-excited 0^? band are explained within the rotational model including band mixings. No evidence was found for a 0⁺ level at 650 keV proposed earlier.     

Microscopic structures of parity doublets in the151Pm,153Eu and155Eu nuclei

Microscopic structures of the proposed parity doublet bands in the odd-proton Z=61¹⁵¹Pm and Z=63^{153, 155}Eu nuclei are examined using the quasiparticle phonon nuclear model Hamiltonian including the residual pairing and multipole-multipole interactions. Octupole correlations between intrinsic nonrotational states are studied to check the suggested assignments of parity doublet partners in these nuclei. We conclude significant octupole correlations between a pair ofK ^π = 1/2^± doublets in each of these nuclei, with somewhat weaker correlations betweenK ^π = 3/2^± bands in both the Eu isotopes. No octupole connection between the lowestK ^π = 5/2^± bands is found; however, significant octupole collectivity, built on the low-lying 5/2^? bands, is predicted in the higher-lying 5/2⁺ bands which contain the 5/2⁺ [402] fragmented strength.     

Investigation of vibrational levels in226Ra by coulomb excitation and by the226Ra(d,pnγ) reaction

Vibrational bands in²²⁶Ra were studied by Coulomb excitation and by the²²⁶Ra(d,pnγ) reaction. The first-excitedK ^π = 0⁺ and 1^? bands with known band heads at 825 and 1049 keV, respectively, were extended up to the 8⁺ and 7^? levels. A new 2⁺ level at 1110 keV and the known 2⁺ level at 1156 keV were observed following Coulomb excitation and interpreted asγ vibration and possible member of a second-exitedK ^π = 0⁺ band, respectively. TheE1 andE2 branching ratios from these vibrational bands to the ground and first-excited 0^? band are explained within the rotational model including band mixings. No evidence was found for a 0⁺ level at 650 keV proposed earlier.     

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.     

Rotational sidebands in 166Er

Rotational sidebands in ¹⁶⁶Er were observed using the 24 MeV ¹⁶⁴Dy(α, 2nγ) reactions. The ground-state band was observed up to spin 16⁺ and does not backbend. A strong backbend is, however, observed in a K^π = (O⁺) sideband, indicating that the 12⁺ state of the previously unknown S-band is at 2656 keV. The γ-band shows significant rotational alignment above I = 10⁺. Levels of at least two negative-parity bands, one of which is primarily the K^π = 2^? octupole vibration, are also observed.     

A study of the low-lying states in 178Hf through the (n, γ) reaction

The nucleus ¹⁷⁸Hf was studied through thermal neutron and averaged resonance neutron capture reactions. The γ-ray and conversion electrons were measured with high resolution spectrometers. A level scheme up to an excitation energy of ∼2.1 MeV was constructed. It includes ∼65 levels, most of which are ordered into 18 rotational bands. The level scheme is complete up to about 1800keV for spins between 2 and 5. The neutron binding energy was established to be at 7626.3 (3) keV. The consistent Q form of the IBA-1 (CQF) was used to describe the low-lying collective γ and K^π = 0⁺ bands. The agreement with the data was found to be excellent for the energies and B(E2) ratios of the ground and γ bands, whereas the agreement was poor for the K^π = 0⁺ bands.     

The study of the ground state rotational bands in U 233 and U 235 by the inelastic scattering of deuterons

The ground state rotational bands in the odd isotopes of uranium U 233 and U 235, were studied by the inelastic scattering of 13.1 MeV deuterons. Seven members of these bands were seen in both nuclei. By fitting the experimental energies of the levels to the relation E(I)= =AI(I+1)+B[I(I+1)]², the parametersA andB were determined. Their values and the upper limits of the quadrupole reduced transition probabilities determined from the cross sections were: U 233:A=(5.93±0.10)keV,B=(?0.002±0.001)keV,B(E2,5/2→7/2)= =(6.51±0.66)×10^?48 e² cm⁴,B(E2,5/2→9/2)=(2.80±0.37) X 10^?48 e² cm⁴. U 235:A=(5.36±0.04)keV,B=(?0.0017±0.0004) keV,B(E2,7/2→9/2)=(8.05±0.71) × × 10^?48 e² cm⁴,B(E2,7/2→11/2)=(2.17±0.39) X 10^?48 e² cm⁴.     

Electrofission of 234U, 236U and 238U: Angular distributions and E2 strength functions

The electrofission angular distributions for ²³⁴U in the energy range 5.5 to 25 MeV were measured and are analyzed together with those obtained previously for ²³⁶U and ²³⁸U. The competition between the K = 0 and K = 1 fission channels following E2 excitation is established, showing a dominance of the K = 0 channel for near-barrier fission. The E2 fission strength functions for ²³⁴U, ²³⁶U and ²³⁸U are deduced as well, and the E2 fission probabilities (at energies below the pairing gap) are estimated. A substantial concentration of E2 strength near the fission barrier is found, in good agreement with earlier photofission angular-distribution studies.     

Band mixing in156Gd and158Gd

A detailed investigation of the energies and intensities of the γ-rays that depopulate the low spin levels of the β- and γ-vibrational bands of¹⁵⁶Gd and the γ-vibrational band of¹⁵⁸Gd has been conducted. Both singles and γ-γ coincidence measurements were made on sources of 15-d¹⁵⁶Eu and 46-min¹⁵⁸Eu by use of large volume, high resolution Ge(Li) detectors. In addition to the γ-band at 1154.09 keV, twoK ^π=0⁺ bands were observed in¹⁵⁶Gd with band heads at 1049.45 and 1168.11 keV, respectively. The 2⁺ and 3⁺ members of the γ-vibrational band in¹⁵⁸Gd were observed at 1187.12 and 1265.43 keV, respectively, as well as a newK ^π=0⁺ band at 1195.98 keV. A first order perturbational treatment of the branching ratios was applied to both nuclei. In addition, the mixing between the ground state, the β-, and the γ-vibrational bands of¹⁵⁶Gd is considered from two approaches, but neither satisfactorily explains all the experimentalB(E2) ratios.     

A study of the rotational side-bands in 162Dy

Rotational side-bands in ¹⁶²Dy have been studied using the ¹⁶⁰Gd(α, 2nγ)¹⁶²Dy reaction. Seven side-bands are observed, with K^π = 2⁺, 2^?, (0)^?, 0⁺, 5^?, 4⁺ and (6^?). Four of these bands have collective structure at low spin: the K^π = 2⁺γ-vibrational band, the K^π = 0⁺β-vibrational band, and the K^π = 2^? and (0)^? octupole vibrational bands. Of the remaining bands, the 4⁺ band is deformation coupled while the 5^? and (6^?) bands are rotation-aligned. Several bandcrossings are observed in this nucleus. The β and γ-bands are crossed at $\text{I = 6}\text{h}\text{?}\text{and}\text{12}\text{h}\text{?}$, respectively, by a highly aligned ($\text{i}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>13</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$)² S-band; extrapolation of this S-band to higher spin suggests that it crosses the g.s.b. between $\text{I = 18}\text{h}\text{?}\text{and}\text{20}\text{h}\text{?}$. The 2^? octupole band is crossed by the 5^? band at $\text{I = 9}\text{h}\text{?}$ and again by the (6^?) band at $\text{I = 12}\text{h}\text{?}$. The latter bandcrossings are discussed in terms of two-quasiparticle plus rotor calculations.     

Variety of vibrational excitations in 228Th

The level structure of ²²⁸Th was studied using mass-separated ²²⁸Pa sources and a γ - γ coincidence setup of 5 Compton suppressed Ge detectors. The complete octupole quadruplet, three excited K ^π = 0⁺ bands and two excited K ^π = 2⁺ bands were identified at excitation energies elow 1.4 MeV.     

Vibrational band structure in 184W populated in the decay of 184Re

The decay of ^184mRe has been investigated through γ-ray and conversion electron studies. The band head of the K^π = 2^? octupole band has been established at 1130.0 keV. The E2/M1 mixing ratios of three transitions from the γ-vibrational band to the ground state band have been determined by angular correlation measurements. A mixing of El, M2 and E3 multipolarity has been derived for the 921 keV transition combining angular correlation and conversion electron data. A value B(E3, 0⁺ → 3^? = (25 ± 5) × 10⁴e² · fm⁶ was obtained from the measured E2/M1 mixing of the 91 keV 3^? → → 2^? transition and γ-branchings. The data are discussed in terms of the collective model taking into account band mixing.