Static quadrupole moments of the first excited states of 200Hg and 202Hg

The static quadrupole moments Q_2⁺ and B(E2; 0⁺ → 2⁺) values of the 2⁺ first excited states of ²⁰⁰Hg and ²⁰²Hg have been determined using the reorientation effect in Coulomb excitation. An annular silicon surface-barrier detector was used to detect backscattered ⁴He, ¹²C and ¹⁶O projectiles. It is found that for ²⁰⁰Hg, Q_2⁺ = +1.07 ± 0.19 e · b(+0.98 ± 0.19 e · b) for destructive (constructive) interference from the 2^+′ state, and B(E2; 0⁺ → 2⁺) = 0.853 ± 0.007 e² · b². For ²⁰²Hg, we find Q_2⁺ = +1.01 ± 0.13 e · b (+0.87 ± 0.13 e · b) and B(E2; 0⁺ → 2⁺) = 0.605 ± 0.005 e² · b². The Q_2⁺ value obtained for ²⁰⁰Hg is in agreement with previous work, but that for ²⁰²Hg is not. The results obtained are compared with the predictions of various nuclear models, and the mass dependence of Q_2⁺ in the region 182 ≦ A ≦ 206 is examined.     

Quadrupole moment of the first excited state of 32S

The static quadrupole moment and B(E2; 0⁺ → 2⁺) value for the first excited state of ³²S were measured using the reorientation effect in Coulomb excitation of ³²S projectiles. Silicon surface barrier detectors were used to detect ³²S ions scattered from ²⁰⁸Pb at mean laboratory angles of 90° and 174°, for bombarding energies in the range 122 to 160 MeV. The results for constructive (destructive) interference from the second 2⁺ state in ³²S are QP_2⁺ = ?16.0±2.2 (?13.3±2.2) e·fd² and B(E2; 0⁺ → 2⁺) = 292±17 (307±17) e²·fm⁴     

Electric moments of the first excited state of 18O

The static quadrupole moment Q_2⁺ and the B(E2; 0⁺ → 2⁺) value of the first excited state of ¹⁸O at e_x = 1.982 MeV have been determined using the reorientation effect in Coulomb excitation. Surface-barrier detectors at laboratory angles of 90° and 174° were used to detect ¹⁸O ions elastically and inelastically scattered from ²⁰⁸Pb. At both angles, we determined experimentally the maximum bombarding energies at which nuclear interference effects were negligible. It is found that Q_⁺ = ?0.023 ± 0.021 e · b (?0.052 ± 0.021 e · b) for destructive (constructive) interference from higher states. This result is in good agreement with theoretical expectation. For the transition moment we find B(E2; 0⁺ → 2⁺) = 0.00390 ± 0.00018 e² · b² (0.00371 ± 0.00018 e² · b²) for destructive (constructive) interference.     

The mean life of the second 0+ state in 42Ca

The mean life of the second excited state in ⁴²Ca (1.84 MeV, O⁺) was measured by a direct electronic timing technique to be 558 ± 8 ps. This result compares with a previous measurement of 480 ± 30 ps which yields a high B(E2) value. The present result gives a B(E2; 0₂⁺ 1.84 MeV → 2₁⁺ 1.52 MeV) value of 484 e² · fm⁴ or 55 single-particle units; the theoretical implications of this are discussed.The accurate mean life was extracted using a convoluted function to describe both the inherent time resolution of the experimental system and the exponential decay of the state of interest.     

The electric quadrupole moment of the first excited state of 204Hg

The static electric quadrupole moment Q₂₊ and the B(E2; 0⁺ → 2⁺) value of the 2⁺ first excited state of ²⁰⁴Hg have been determined using the reorientation effect in Coulomb excitation. An annular Si surface-barrier detector was used to detect back-scattered ⁴He, ¹²C and ¹⁶O projectiles. In a subsidiary experiment, spectra were obtained from ²⁰⁴Hg(p, p')²⁰⁴Hg using Si surface-barrier detectors, and the results were used in conjunction with previously existing data to provide information on higher states of ²⁰⁴Hg which might participate in the Coulomb excitation of the 2⁺ state. From a 3-level analysis, we find Q₂₊ = +0.40 ± 0.20 e · b and B(E2; 0⁺ → 2⁺) = 0.423 ± 0.005 e² · b². These results are in good agreement with the predictions of particle-vibrational coupling calculations. The value obtained for $\text{Q}{}_{\mathrm{2+}}\text{(}{}^{204}\text{Hg)}$ is substantially smaller in magnitude than values of Q₂₊ previously determined for ^{198, 200, 202}Hg.     

Electric quadrupole moments of the first excited states of 194Pt, 196Pt and 198Pt

Coulomb excitation of ^{194, 196, 198}Pt by ⁴He, ¹²C and ¹⁶O projectiles has been used to determine the static electric quadrupole moments Q(2₁⁺) of the first excited states of ^194,196,198Pt, together with values of B(E2; 0₁⁺ → 2₁⁺). It is clearly established that Q(2₁⁺) is positive for each nucleus, having values of 0.48 (14)e · b and 0.66 (12)e · b for ¹⁹⁴Pt and ¹⁹⁶Pt, respectively, and 0.42 (12)e · b or 0.54 (12)e · b for ¹⁹⁸Pt, depending on whether the interference term P₄(2₂⁺) is positive or negative. Results obtained for B(E2; 0₁⁺ → 2₁⁺) are 1.661 (11)e² · b², 1.382 (6)e² · b² and 1.090 (7)e² · b² for ^{194, 196, 198}Pt respectively. The results are compared with the predictions of various nuclear models.     

Reorientation effect measurements of 122Te and 130Te

Coulomb excitation probabilities of the first 2 ⁺ states of ¹²²Te and ¹³⁰Te have been determined. The measurement was performed by resolving the inelastically and elastically scattered ⁴He and ¹⁶O projectiles using eight surface barrier detectors between 44° and 173°. Quadrupole moments Q₂⁺ as well as B(E2, 0⁺ → 2⁺) values were deduced. The Q₂⁺ found for the positive sign of the 2₂⁺ interference term are ?0.46±0.05 e · b and ?0.15±0.10 e · b for ¹²²Te and ¹³⁰Te respectively.     

Collective states in even Sn nuclei

0⁺, 2⁺, 4⁴ and 3^? states in ^112–124Sn have been studied with the (p, p′γ) reaction and in Coulomb excitation. Absolute E2 transition rates between these levels have been extracted with the aid of the Winther-de Boer code. For ^116,118Sn, B(E2; 4₁⁺ → 2₁⁺) ≈ 20 W.u., suggesting a two-phonon character of the 4₁⁺ states. For the lighter and heavier isotopes, this value is significantly smaller. All observed values of B(E2; 2₂⁺ → 2₁⁺) and B(E2; 2₃⁺→ 2₁⁺) are about 5 W.u. Also. values of B(E3; 0₁⁺ → 3^?₁) have been measured for all stable even Sn nuclei. In ¹¹⁶Sn the branching ratio (3₁^? → 0₁⁺)/(3₁^? → 2₁⁺) has been measured. From this we obtain a half-life of 0.34±0.07 ps for the first 3^? level in ¹¹⁶Sn and B(E1; 3₁^? → 2₁⁺) = (1.4±0.3) × 10^?5'e² · b, corresponding to a hindrance factor of 10³.     

Coulomb excitation of 182, 184, 186W and 166Er with 4He and 16O ions

The Coulomb excitation reaction induced by ⁴He ions selectively excites 2⁺ and 3^? states by direct E2 and E3 Coulomb excitation. In this paper, we present new results from γ-ray spectroscopy with 15 MeV ⁴He ions on a natural abundance target of W. In particular, a 3^? state in each isotope, ^{182, 184, 196}W, was observed by direct E3 excitation. In addition to obtaining B(Eλ, 0 → J = λ) for excitation of each state, information on the reduced transition probabilities for the different decay modes of these states is given. The Coulomb excitation probabilities of the 2'⁺ states at 786 keV in ¹⁶⁶Er and at 737 keV in ¹⁸⁶W were measured with ¹⁶O and ⁴He ions by the backscattered particle-gamma coincidence method in order to determine the static electric quadrupole moment Q_2'. We obtain for ¹⁶⁶Er Q_2' = 2.11 ± 0.37 e· b which is in agreement with (Q_2')_rot and for ¹⁸⁶W Q_2' = 1.17 ± 0.30 e · b which is in agreement with Kumar-Baranger model calculations and is significantly smaller than (Q_2')_rot. This deviation of the measured Q_2' from (Q_2'rot implies in the framework of the Kumar-Baranger calculations a strong coupling between β- and γ-vibrational bands. On the other hand, our observed upper limit for B(E2,2″ → 2′) does not confirm this implication.     

Reorientation effect measurements in 124Te, 126Te and 128Te

Coulomb excitation probabilities of the first 2⁺ states of ¹²⁴Te, ¹²⁶Te and ¹²⁸Te have been determined. The measurement was performed by resolving the inelastically and elastically backward scattered ⁴He and ¹⁶O projectiles using an annular surface barrier detector. Quadrupole moments (Q₂₊) as well as the B(E2, 0⁺ → 2⁺) values were extracted by analyzing the excitation probabilities with the Winther-de Boer multiple Coulomb excitation program. The Q₂ deduced for the positive sign of the 2⁺ interference term are ?0.41 ± 0.08 e · b, ?0.144 ± 0.11 e · b and ?0.12 ± 0.09 e · b for ¹²⁴Te, ¹²⁶Te and ¹²⁸Te, respectively.     

The B(E2↑) and Rtr of 21+ states in90Zr and60Ni

The ground state transition probabilities for the 2₁⁺ states in⁹⁰Zr and⁶⁰Ni as determined by resonance fluorescence and reorientation effect methods are used as constraints to deduce transition densities from inelastic electron scattering data. The (e, e') cross sections for the ⁹⁰Zr, 2₁⁺ state at 2.186 MeV were measured at the Kelvin Laboratory, while for the 2₁⁺ state at 1.333 MeV in⁶⁰Ni, the existing (e, e') data of Yale and Sendai were used. The discrepancy between the model independent (e, e') result of Yale for⁹⁰Zr and the (γ, γ') measurement is explained. The importance of an accurate knowledge of the ground state charge distribution for analysis of (e, e') data is emphasized. For⁹⁰Zr, the B(E2↑) is 674 ± 60 e²· fm⁴ and ^R_tr is 5.74 ± 0.11 fm. For the 1.333 MeV state in⁶⁰Ni, these values are 918 ± 26 e²· fm⁴ and 5.33 ± 0.03 fm respectively.     

A measurement of B(E3;0+ → 31−) and some E2 transition probabilities in 132, 134, 136, 138Ba using Coulomb excitation

Reduced transition probabilities, B(E2) and B(E3), have been measured for low-lying 2⁺ and 3^? states in ^{132, 134, 136, 138}Ba using Coulomb excitation by 40 MeV ¹²C ions. The B(E2) values are in general consistent with previous measurements and the B(E3;0⁺ → 3₁^?) values are 0.176 ± 0.022, 0.148 ± 0.018, 0.155 ± 0.018 and 0.133 ± 0.013 e² · b³ for ^{132, 134, 136, 138}Ba respectively. These B(E3) values correspond to about 24 to 17 W.u. and such enhancements suggest that these 3^? states have an essentially collective character which may be attributed to octupole vibrations.     

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.     

High-resolution (e,e') study of isovector M1 and M2 transitions in the oxygen isotopes: (I). 16O

The M1 and M2 transition strength distribution for ¹⁶O in the excitation energy range from 16 to 20 MeV has been measured in a high-resolution electron scattering experiment. The M1 strength is concentrated in three sharp states at E_x = 16.22, 17.14 and 18.79 MeV (± 0.01 MeV) with B(M1, k)↑ = 0.20 ± 0.02, 0.32 ± 0.03 and 0.13 ± 0.03 μ_N², respectively. An additional strength of 0.35 ± 0.09 μ_N², distributed over eight weakly excited states with excitation energies E_x = 17.4 to 18.0 MeV, brings the total measured M1 strength to B(M1, k)↑ = 1.0 ± 0.1 μ_N². The experimental M2 strength is distributed over states at E_x = 16.82, 17.78, 18.50 and 19.0 MeV (± 0.01 MeV) with B(M2, k)↑ = 19 ± 2, 13 ± 2, 59 ± 7 and 341 ± 51 μ_N² · fm², respectively. Electric transitions were also measured to states at E_x = 16.45 MeV (2⁺, E2), 17.30 MeV (1⁺, E1) and 18.20 MeV (2⁺, E2). Calculations were performed using the modified surface delta interaction in a 2p-2h shell model for the M1 transitions and the random phase approximation for the M2 transitions. The results show the sensitivity of the M1 strength as a measure of ground-state correlations and compare well with results from the ¹⁵N($\text{p}$, γ) reaction.     

Deformed states of high spin in42Ca

The⁴²Ca levels at 4,715 and 6,633 keV excitation energy have been investigated using the³⁹ K(α,pγ reaction atE _α=14 and 15 MeV. From particle-γ-ray angular correlations the spin assignmentsJ(4,715)=6, 4 andJ(6,633)=8, 6, 4 have been obtained. Lifetime measurements using the Doppler-shift attenuation method yieldedτ (4,715)=120±46 fs andτ(6,633)=52±21 fs. Both levels have positive parity and decay by enhancedE2 transitions. They are interpreted as theJ ^π=6⁺ and 8⁺ members, respectively, of theK ^π=0⁺ rotational band which has theE _x =1,837, 2,423 and 3,250 keV states as further members. The enhancement of inbandE2 transitions is 50 _?16 ⁺³⁵ W.u. (6→4) and 63 W.u. (8→6) respectively. The intrinsic quadrupole moments which have been derived on the basis of the coexistence model, areQ ₀=1.13?0.16/+0.37b(8→6) andQ ₀=1.36±0.25b(6→4), respectively. TheJ ^π=10⁺ member of the rotational band has possibly been observed as a level at 8,856±5 keV excitation energy.     

The quadrupole momentQ 2+ of32S

The static quadrupole moment of the first excited 2⁺ state in³²S was determined by comparing, in coincidence with³²S ions backscattered from⁶⁰Ni, the gamma-ray yields of the 2 ₁ ⁺ →0 ₁ ⁺ transitions in both nuclei for bombarding energies around 70MeV. Depending on the sign of the interference term for transitions via the second excited 2⁺ state in³²S, the following two values were determined:Q ₂ ⁺ =(?18±4)e·fm² andQ ₂₊=(?15±4)e·fm².     

Structure of even-even actinides in the interacting boson model and the N = 152 subshell closure

We show that a wide range of deformed actinides can be described in terms of an interacting boson model hamiltonian with three parameters, two of them [including the coefficient of the only SU(3) symmetry breaking term] remaining almost constant over the whole region. In addition to ground γ₁ and β₁ spectra, B(E2:0_g⁺ → 2_g⁺) values are well reproduced with no extra adjustable parameters for nuclei with 136⩽N⩽146, while for nuclei beyond N = 146 an effective boson number has to be considered in order to fit the observed in the B(E2:0⁺_g → 2⁺_g) values, which is due to the presensce of a subshell closure at N = 152. The sensitive dependence of the B(E2:0_g⁺→2_g⁺) values on the effective boson numbers is emphasized. β₁ → ground and β₁ → ground transitions are fitted by breaking the SU(3) symmetry of the E2 transition operator.     

Coulomb excitation in 180Hf

Coulomb excitation studies have been performed to measure transition probabilities of collective quadrupole vibrational states in ¹⁸⁰Hf. The I = 2 level of the K^π = 2⁺ collective γ-band is established at 1200.5 keV with B(E2)_exc = (11.0 ± 1.1) × 10^?50e² · cm⁴ (3.6 ± 0.4 s.p.u.). The angular distribution of the de-exciting γ-rays from this level yields δ = 9.6⁺²²_?5.8 or, less likely, 0.7 ± 0.2 for the 1107.2 keV 2_γ⁺ → 2_g⁺ transition. The B(E2)_exc for any K^πI = 0⁺2 stateorother 2⁺ states up to 1500 keV is less than 5 × 10^?51e² · cm⁴ (< 0.2. s.p.u.).     

Search forββ decay of76Ge to the excited states in76Se

Lower limits on the half-life of theββ(2v+0v) decay of⁷⁶Ge to the excited states in⁷⁶Se have been obtained using the results of low-background measurements with a HPGe detector surrounded by passive germanium shielding: T_1/2(0⁺ → 2 ₁ ⁺ ) >1.1 · 10²¹ y, T_1/2(0⁺ → 0 ₁ ⁺ ) > 1.7 · 10²¹ y, T_1/2(0⁺ → 2^2/+) > 1.4 ·10²¹ y.