Observation of the isotopes264108 and265108

The experiment having led to the discovery of first isotopes of element 108, as published previously in Short Notes to this Journal [1, 2] are described and discussed in a final paper. Two isotopes of element 108 were produced by complete fusion of²⁰⁷Pb and²⁰⁸Pb, respectively, with⁵⁸Fe. Both isotopes areα-emitters. For the isotope with mass 265 threeα-decay sequences were observed. Theα-decay energy is (10.36±0.03) MeV, the half-life (1.8 _?0.7 ^+2.2 ) ms. For the isotope with mass 264, which is the heaviest doubly even isotope known at present, the decay sequence of one atom was found. The measured half-life is (76 _?36 ⁺³⁶⁴ ) μs. Our experimental results point towards an enhanced stability of the heaviest elements against spontaneous fission, which was already observed for element 106.     

Spontaneous fission and alpha-decay properties of neutron deficient isotopes 257−253104 and 258106

Spontaneous fission and α-decay of^253?257104 and ²⁵⁸106 were investigated in irradiations of ^204,206,208Pb with ⁵⁰Ti and ²⁰⁹Bi with ⁵¹V, respectively. New spontaneous fission activities were identified and assigned to ²⁵³104, ²⁵⁴104, and ²⁵⁸106. The half-lives were measured as T_1/2 = (48 _?10 ⁺¹⁴ ) μs for ²⁵³104, T_1/2 = (23 ± 3) μs for ²⁵⁴104, and T_1/2 = (2.9 _?0.7 ^+1.3 ) ms for ²⁵⁸106. No indication for α-decay of any of these isotopes was found. For the α-decay branching ratios bα limits corresponding to bα ≤ 0.1 for ²⁵³104, bα ≤ 0.015 for ²⁵⁴104, and bα ≤0.2 for ²⁵⁸106 were obtained. These results prove a reduced fission probability for nuclei with neutron numbers N=152 up to Z=106 and a steep decrease of the fission half-lives for neutron numbers N < 152 up to element 104. α-decay data of ²⁵⁷104 and ²⁵⁵104 have been improved. An isomeric state decaying by α-emission was identified in ²⁵⁷104 and attributed to a low lying 11/2- [725] state. A small α-decay branch for the even — even nucleus ²⁵⁶104, indicated in an earlier experiment at SHIP, was confirmed, allowing a better founded extrapolation of experimental masses for even — even nuclei up to ²⁶⁴Hs (Z=108), the heaviest even — even nucleus identified so far.     

Study of the excited 0+ states through conversion electron spectroscopy of neutron rich Zr and Mo fission products

A windowless Si(Li) electron detector has been used in conjunction with the gas filled fission product separator JOSEF to study totally converted transitions in Zr and Mo isotopes. The existence of twoβ-decay modes in⁹⁶Y,⁹⁸Y and¹⁰⁰Nb is confirmed. The half-lives of theβ-decaying levels feeding O ₂ ⁺ states in⁹⁶Zr and⁹⁸Zr are 6.0 ± 0.4 sec and 0.60±0.05 sec respectively. A search for other first excited O ₂ ⁺ states shows that no such states are apparent in¹⁰⁰Zr and¹⁰⁴Mo.     

Determination of the partial electron capture- and spontaneous-fission half-lives of254No

The isotope²⁵⁴No was produced in the fusion reaction⁴⁸Ca +²⁰⁸Pb. Using the velocity filter SHIP and radiochemical techniques it was found that the nuclide²⁵⁴No with a half-life of 55 s decays byα, EC, and spontaneous-fission. Deduced partial half-lives are (61±2) s forα-decay, (550 _?160 ⁺³⁷⁰ ) s for EC and [2.2 _?1.0 ^+2.0 ]×10⁴ s for spontaneous fission.     

Symmetric and asymmetric fission of charged sodium clusters

A deformed-jellium model is used to calculate the fission barrier height of Na ₂₄ ²⁺ → Na ₂₁ ⁺ +Na ₃ ⁺ and Na ₄₂ ²⁺ → 2Na ₂₁ ⁺ within the Kohn—Sham Density Functional Theory (i.e., including shell effects). Although the shape of the barrier obviously depends on the parametrization of the fission path, we have found that the barrier maximum corresponds to a configuration in which the emerging fragments are already formed and rather well apart. The two examples chosen serve to illustrate the influence of the electronic shell effects.     

Determination of theL-shell conversion coefficient for the 26 keV Mössbauer transition in161Dy

TheL-shell conversion coefficient of the 26 keV Mössbauer transition in¹⁶¹Dy has been determined to be α_L=2.4 _?0.2 ^+0.3 by coincidence techniques using high resolution Ge(Li) and Si(Li) detectors. With theoretical values for theM- andN-shells the total conversion coefficient is calculated to be α_tot=2.9 _?0.2 ^+0.3 .     

Beta-delayed gammas and QEC-values in the decays of150m,152mHo and149Dy

^{150m, 152m}Ho, and¹⁴⁹Dy were produced by fusion-evaporation reactions of⁴⁰Ar with targets of natural indium and¹¹⁴Cd. Theβ-decays of the isotopes were reinvestigated with emphasis on high-excitation daughter states. The decay energies for selectedβ-transitions were measured from electron-capture to positron-decay ratios. Corrections forγ-feeding from higher-lying states were taken into account. The following Q_EC-values were derived for^150mHo,^152mHo, and^149mDy of 6819 ( _?100 ⁺¹¹⁷ , 6263 ( _?80 ⁺⁸⁹ ), and 3914 ( _?52 ⁺⁷⁶ ) keV, respectively.     

Alpha-decay characteristics of neutron-deficient 190Po, 189Bi and 186Pb isotopes

The neutron-deficient ¹⁹⁰Po and ¹⁸⁹Bi isotopes have been produced in the 2n respectively p2n channels of the ⁴⁸Ti +¹⁴⁴ Sm reaction. Cross sections for different reaction channels are given. For ¹⁹⁰Po, improved values of α-energy E_α = 7550(15) keV and half-life T_1/2 = 1.9 _?0.4 ^+0.6 ms were measured. By using correlated α-decay chains an α-branching ratio of 0.50(25) was deduced for ¹⁸⁶Pb. The reduced α-width systematic is extended for both of these isotopes, confirming a persistence of the saturation towards the lighter Po isotopes and the absence of any anomalies for the neutron-deficient Pb isotopes. For ¹⁸⁹Bi improved values of E_α = 7300(15) keV and T_1/2 = 4.8(5) ms were measured.     

Precise atomic masses of147Eu,147Gd,and151Tb derived from their decay properties

Theβ-decay energies of¹⁴⁷Eu,¹⁴⁷Gd, and¹⁵¹Tb were determined by usingγ-spectroscopical methods. The comparison of experimental with calculatedK-capture probabilities yielded theQ _EC values 1.690( _?16 ⁺²¹ )MeV and 2.203( _?13 ⁺¹⁹ )MeV for¹⁴⁷Eu and¹⁴⁷Gd, respectively. By measuring the ratio of positron decay to electron capture for two branches in¹⁴⁷Eu decay, the decay energiesQ _EC=1.702(13) MeV andQ _EC=1.709(18)MeV were derived. Also fromEC/β ⁺ ratios the valuesQ _EC=2.225(75) MeV for¹⁴⁷Gd, andQ _EC=2.566(12)MeV for¹⁵¹Tb were obtained. Earlier discrepancies in the mass adjustment of these isotopes were removed. In course of the present studiesγ-decay properties of¹⁴⁷Eu and¹⁴⁷Gd were reinvestigated.     

Evidence for a 3.6 minute isomeric 12− state of the πh 11 2/−1 vi 13 2/−1 configuration in206Tl and effective two-particle interactions

Using the²⁰⁴Hg(α, pn)-reaction andα-particles of energies 39–55 MeV, we have found an isomeric 3.6 min 12^? state in²⁰⁶Tl at 2,642.9 keV which has the two-hole configurationπh ₁₁ ^2/?1 vi ₁₃ ^2/?1 The 12^? state decays mainly by anE5 transition of energy 1,021.4 keV to a 7⁺ state at 1,621.5 keV whose main configuration isπs ₁ ^2/?1 vi ₁₃ ^2/?1 There is, in addition, evidence for a weak 565 keVM 4 branch to an 8⁺ state at 2,078 keV whose main configuration should beπh ₁₁ ^2/?1 vf ₅ ^2/?1 . The 7⁺ state decays by a stretched cascade ofγ-rays to states of the following values ofJ ^π and excitation energy: 5 _? ⁺ , 1,405.4 keV; 4^?, 952.1 keV; 2^?, 265.8 keV and 0^?, 0 keV. The main configurations of these states areπh ₁₁ ^2/?1 vp ₁ ^2/?1 ,πd ₃ ^2/?1 vf ₅ ^2/?1 ,πd ₃ ^2/?1 vp ₁ ^2/?1 andπs ₁ ^2/?1 vp ₁ ^2/?1 respectively. From the nuclear masses of²⁰⁸Pb,²⁰⁷Pb,²⁰⁷Tl, and²⁰⁶Tl and the experimental excitation energies it is possible to obtain the proton hole-neutron hole interaction in²⁰⁶Tl. This interaction is compared with the calculations of Kuo and Herling and the discrepancies are discussed. The 12^?→8⁺ M4 transition rate is reduced because of destructive interference between the protonh _11/2→d _3/2 and the neutroni _13/2→f _5/2 contributions. The magnitude of the reduction is accurately reproduced by the wave functions of Kuo and Herling. The 12^?→7⁺ E5 transition rate is about twice as large as the single-holeπh ₁₁ ^2/?1 πs ₁ ^2/?1 transition rate. This deviation is fully explained by the configuration admixtures in the 7⁺ state, given by Kuo and Herling.     

Nuclear orientation of Bi isotopes in a ferromagnetic BiMn compound

A method of low-temperature nuclear orientation of bulk amount of Bi was developed utilizing a ferromagnetic compound BiMn. The radioactive isotopes of Bi,²⁰⁷Bi and²⁰⁶Bi, were oriented by this method and the hyperfine field at Bi in BiMn was determined to be ±(940 _?130 ⁺¹⁸⁰ ) kOe. No reorientation effect was observed at the isomers in²⁰⁷Pb and²⁰⁶Pb around 30 mK. The E2/M1 multipole mixing ratios of several γ-transitions in²⁰⁶Pb were determined.     

Level structure of106Mo

The level scheme of the very neutron rich nucleus ₁₀₆ ⁴² Mo₆₄ has been studied for the first time through theβ decay of¹⁰⁶Nb. Six new excited states were observed inγ singles andγ-γ coincidence experiments in addition to the 2⁺, 4⁺ and 6⁺ members of the ground state band. The excitation energies and the deexcitation pattern suggest the interpretation of the levels at 710, 885 and 956 keV as the 2 ₂ ⁺ , 3 ₁ ⁺ and 0 ₂ ⁺ states, respectively. The data support the assumption of a non-axial deformation of¹⁰⁶Mo. A half-life of (1.02±0.05) s has been determined for theβ decay of¹⁰⁶Nb.     

Hints of giant halo in Zr isotopes by resonant RMF+ACCC+BCS approach

In experiments for the synthesis of superheavy elements at the velocity filter SHIP, GSI, we observed fission events, which could not be attributed to decay chains of superheavy isotopes from fusion reactions. Usually, the observation of spontaneous fission is a crucial first step for the detection of decay chains. In order to avoid random correlations and misidentifications of superheavy isotopes, it is therefore essential to know the features and cross-sections of fission events not originating from decay chains of superheavy nuclei. The special properties of the velocity filter allowed us to identify and study the ??background?? fission events as decay products of heavy target-like nuclides populated in nucleon transfer reactions. Here, we will discuss the results obtained in collisions of ₂₀ ⁴⁸ Ca + ₉₆ ²⁴⁸ Cm, ₂₄ ⁵⁴ Cr + ₉₆ ²⁴⁸ Cm and ₂₈ ⁶⁴ Ni + ₉₂ ²³⁸ U, which were applied for the synthesis of elements Z = 116 and 120, respectively.     

The new isotopes258105,257105,254Lr and253Lr

Evaporation residues from the heavy-ion fusion reaction⁵⁰Ti on²⁰⁹Bi were investigated. They were separated from the projectile beam by the velocity filter SHIP and identified after implantation into an array of position-sensitive surface-barrier detectors by analyzing theirα-decay chains. Spontaneous fission was also observed. Four newα emitters,²⁵⁸105 (T_1/2=4.4 _?0.6 ^+0.9 s),²⁵⁷105 (T_1/2= 1.4 _?0.3 ^+0.6 s),²⁵⁴Lr (T _1/2= 13 _?2 ⁺³ s), and²⁵³Lr (T _1/2=1.3 _?0.3 ^+0.6 s) could be identified. For the isotope²⁵⁷105 we obtained a spontaneous-fission branch of about 20%. A spontaneous-fission activity with a halflife comparable to that for theα decay of²⁵⁸105 was explained as fission of²⁵⁸104, formed by electron capture from²⁵⁸105. An excitation function for evaporation-residue production was measured for bombarding energies in the range ofE _CM=184.4 MeV toE _CM=196.6 MeV. Nearly all evaporation residues we observed, could be attributed to the 1n and 2n deexcitation channels. The maximum cross sections wereσ(1n)=c/2.9±0.3) nbarn, andσ(2n)=c/2.1±0.8) nbarn, respectively. We could measure the total kinetic energy of the fission fragments of²⁵⁸104 to be TKE=(220±15) MeV, a value that fits into empirical systematics based on aZ ²/A ^1/3 dependence.     

Electromagnetic transition probability from the ground to the first excited 2+ state in138ce

The ratio of the B(E2) values for the 0 ₁ ⁺ → 2 ₁ ⁺ transitions in¹³⁸Ce and¹⁴²Ce was measured by Coulomb excitation with α-particles. From the known value of the transition probability in¹⁴²Ce it results: B(E2,¹³⁸Ce, 0 ₁ ⁺ → 2 ₁ ⁺ =0.45 +/?0.03 e² b ²     

IsoscalarE2 transition strengths in 10≦A≦48 nuclei

Electric quadrupole transition strengths for the 2 ₁ ⁺ ,T=1→0 ₁ ⁺ ,T=1γ-decay branches are summarized for 10≦A≦42 nuclei. In¹⁰B the corresponding branch has been remeasured by use of the⁹Be(p, γ)¹⁰B resonance reaction atE _p =320 keV; an upper limit of 0.6% is found. The variation of theE2 strengths within each individualT=1 isobaric multiplet reveals the particleor hole-character of the levels involved. The isoscalar 2 ₁ ⁺ →0 ₁ ⁺ transition strengths in 10≦A≦48 nuclei vary between 2 and 20 Weißkopf units showing drastic shell effects. Results for the ratio of neutron and proton matrix elements deduced from analogγ-decay studies and from inelastic pion scattering are compared.     

Theβ-decay of100Y: Discovery of a very low lying 0+ state in100Zr

Theβ-decay of¹⁰⁰Y has been investigated at the gas filled recoil separator JOSEF by means ofγ-ray and conversion electron spectroscopy. Twoβ-decay modes, of half lives 0.94±0.03 s and 0.55±0.15 s, have been observed. Using Xγ-, Xce-, γγ- andγce-coincidences the level scheme of¹⁰⁰Zr has been constructed. An excited 0 ₂ ⁺ state at 331.3 keV has been discovered in this nucleus. Theβ-decay from the 0.55 s decay mode in¹⁰⁰Y shows a strong preference for the ground state compared to the 0 ₂ ⁺ state in¹⁰⁰Zr. The structure of¹⁰⁰Zr and the nature of the 0 ₂ ⁺ level is discussed in the light of the present results.     

A coupled-channel treatment of Cabibbo-angle favoured (D,D s + )→VP decays

We have performed a two-channel calculation of Cabibbo-angle favoured decays,D _s ⁺ →VP. We find a satisfactory fit toS _s ⁺ →φπ ⁺,ρ ⁰ π ⁺ andK ⁺ \(\bar K^{ * 0} \) data from ARGUS and E-691. We have also studied Cabbibo-angle favouredD→VP decays in a coupled channel formalism. We coupleD→K ^*π,K _? and \(\bar K^0 \phi \) channels inI=1/2 state, andK ^*π andK _? channels inI=3/2 state. We leave the two channels, \(\bar K^0 \omega \) and \(\bar K^{ * 0} \eta \) out of our unitarization scheme. Particular attention is paid to the role of the weak annihilation term in these decays.     

Decay of 0 2 + states in88,92,94Zr andE0 systematics of Zr isotopes

Branching ratios ofE0 andE2 transitions depopulating the 0 ₂ ⁺ states of^{88, 92, 94}Zr have been determined using conversion-electron and γ-ray spectroscopy. Two different lifetime-measurement methods were applied in the remeasurement of the half-lives of the 0 ₂ ⁺ states in^{92, 94}Zr, yielding consistent results ofT _1/2(0 ₂ ⁺ ,⁹²Zr)=85(15) ps andT _1/2(0 ₂ ⁺ ,⁹⁴Zr)=280(40) ps. The monopole strengths extracted areρ ²(⁹²Zr)=8.4(17) ×10^?3 andρ ²(⁹⁴Zr)=11.9(20)×10^?3. The proton configurations of the 0 ₂ ⁺ states are discussed in view of these values and proton transfer data.     

Pion photoproduction on197Au to ground and isomeric states in197Hg

The lifetime of the 331.3 keV 0 ₂ ⁺ state in¹⁰⁰Zr has been measured at the gas-filled recoil separator for fission products JOSEF. By observing the delayed coincidences between theβ-particles populating the level and theE0 conversion electrons from its decay into the ground state, a half-life of 3.37±0.30 ns has been obtained. From the measured lifetime and the relative intensities of the 0 ₂ ⁺ →0 ₁ ⁺ and 0 ₂ ⁺ →2 ₁ ⁺ transitions, values of 0.493±0.015 for theE0 strength parameterρ, and of 16 single particle units forB(E2,2 ₁ ⁺ → 0 ₂ ⁺ ) have been deduced. The enhanced nature of theE0 transitions suggests mixing of the 0 ₁ ⁺ and 0 ₂ ⁺ states which may be estimated by comparing the experimentalB(E2) values for the 2 ₁ ⁺ →0 ₁ ⁺ and 2 ₁ ⁺ →0 ₂ ⁺ transitions with the predictions of the asymmetric VMI model.