On the decay of the superdeformed band in194Pb

We report on new results for the decay of the superdeformed (SD) band in¹⁹⁴Pb. No transitions linking the SD structure with the known level scheme of¹⁹⁴Pb could be found, but the feeding intensities into the normal-deformed states are determined and limits on the one-step decay of the SD band are given.     

Observation of a superdeformed band in192Pb

A new superdeformed band, identified in data from the²⁴Mg+¹⁷³Yb reaction, is assigned to¹⁹²Pb on the basis of excitation function and coincidence results. Properties of this band are discussed briefly, and compared to the superdeformed bands known in other Pb nuclei.     

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.     

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.     

Transition quadrupole moments of superdeformed states in194Pb

Lifetimes of superdeformed states in¹⁹⁴Pb were measured by the Doppler-shift attenuation method. Quadrupole moments around 20 eb, that are constant over the observed frequency range, are derived. The results rule out large centrifugal stretching effects.     

Confirmation of the superdeformed band in192Pb

High-spin states in¹⁹²Pb were populated via the reaction¹⁷³Yb(²⁴Mg,5n) at a beam energy of 140 MeV, and the resulting-rays were deteced using GAMMASPHERE. A previously observed superdeformed band in¹⁹²Pb has been confirmed.     

Doorway states in the gamma decay-out of the yrast superdeformed band in 59Cu

The decay-out process of the yrast superdeformed band in 59Cu has been investigated. The firm determination of spin, parity, excitation energy, and configuration of the states involved in this process constitutes a unique situation for a detailed understanding of the decay-out mechanism. A theoretical model is introduced that includes a residual interaction and tunneling matrix element between bands, calculated in the configuration-dependent cranked Nilsson-Strutinsky model. This interaction causes the decay to occur via a small number of observed doorway states.     

Observation of a superdeformed band in <Superscript>190</Superscript>Pb

A superdeformed band has been observed in the N = 108 isotope ¹⁹⁰Pb. This is the most neutron-deficient Pb isotope in which superdeformed states have been observed. Several theoretical approaches have predicted that N = 108 will mark the limit of observable superdeformation in the Pb isotopes. The band, which consists of five (possibly six) transitions, is observed to feed at least one isomeric level in its decay to the ground state. This decay pattern supports a spin assignment of 10 for the lowest observed level.     

Observation of intermediate bands feeding the positive-parity yrast band in 155Gd

High-spin states of ¹⁵⁵Gd were populated by using the ¹⁵⁴Sm(α,3nγ)¹⁵⁵Gd reaction at E _α= 33 MeV. γ-γ coincidence, E _γ singles, excitation function, and the DCO ratios were measured. we have identified three intermediate bands with ΔI= 2 feeding the positive yrast band. The bands are interpreted as such candidate bands that are mixed with the negative-parity ground state band. This observation can provide a plausible explanation for unusually large population of the positive-parity yrast band observed in a recent Coulomb excitation. Received: 2 November 1999     

Possible candidates for discrete gamma rays linking superdeformed and yrast states in an odd nucleus:193Pb

The francium isotopes^200–202Fr were produced in the reaction³⁵Cl+¹⁷⁰Yb using bombarding energies of 4.9–5.3 MeV/nucleon. Fusion products were separated in-flight from the primary beam using a gas-filled recoil separator. An alpha line with the alpha particle energy and half-life of (7468±9) keV and (19 ₋₆ ⁺¹³ ) ms, respectively, was assigned to²⁰⁰Fr. Previously reported decay properties of^201,202Fr were confirmed. Communicated by V. Metag     

On the yrast levels in204Pb

High-spin states in²⁰⁴Pb were populated in the²⁰⁴Hg(α,4n) reaction using α-particles in the energy region 42–51 MeV. Prompt and delayedγ-rays as well as conversion electrons were studied in addition to excitation functions, angular distributions andγ-γ coincidences. In this way a stretched cascade ofγ-rays from a level at 8125.9 keV was found to feed the previously known isomeric 9^? level at 2185.7 keV. Spins and parities were established for levels up to and including a 19^? level at 6098.0 keV. The levels with c= 17^2212; and 19^? at excitation energies of 5664.3 and 6098.0 keV are likely to be due to the simplep ₁ ^2/s-1 i ₁₃ ^2/?3 andf ₅ ^2/?1 i ₁₃ ^2/?3 configurations. The agreement between calculated and experimental energies for all observed levels in the regionJ=9–19 is very good in cases where the empirical two-particle interactions used are satisfactorily well known. Above the 19^? level there are three weakly populated levels at 7402.1, 7849.2 and 8125.9 keV, which are likely to haveJ≥20. None of these energies agrees with the calculated value 7695±20 keV for the 20⁺ state of thei ₁₃ ^2/?4 configuration which has the highest angular momentum produced by the four valence neutron holes. This apparent anomaly can be understood if the yrast levels withJ≥20 have angular momentum contribution from the core. It seems likely that the states at 7402.1, 7849.2 and 8125.9 keV are due to proton core excited states of the typeπh _9/2 h ₁₁ ^2/?1 ×νp ₁ ^2/?2 i ₁₃ ^2/?2 withJ ^π=20⁺ andJ ^π=21⁺ andπh _9/2 h ₁₁ ^2/?1 ×νp ₁ ^2/?1 f ₅ ^2?1 i ₁₃ ^2/?2 withJ ^π=22⁺ or 23⁺, respectively. The state at 8126 keV has the highest energy so far directly observed in a stretched cascade ofγ-rays from the decay of a heavy nucleus produced in (α, xn) reactions.     

Characterization of the superdeformed band in189Hg

New measurements of the pionic double charge exchange on⁵⁶Fe exhibit a pronounced energy dependence of this reaction at low energies in accordance with similar observations on other nuclei. We show that this peculiar energy dependence finds its natural explanation by a resonance in theNN subsystem withJ ^p =0^–,T=0 and a mass of 2.065 GeV.This work has been funded by the German Federal Minister for Research and Technology (BMFT) under the contract numbers 06 TÜ 656 and 06 KA 266 and by the DFG (Mu 704/3, Graduiertenkolleg)