Levels in104Ru populated by the β−-decay of104Tc

Theβ ^? — andγ-activities of 18.4 min¹⁰⁴Tc have been studied with singles and coincidence measurements. Sources were prepared by chemical separation of technetium from the fission products of thermal-neutron-induced fission of²³⁵U. A revised level scheme of¹⁰⁴Ru up to an excitation energy of 4.26 MeV is proposed. Fromβ-γ coincidence measurements, aQ _β-value of 5.62±0.07 MeV has been obtained.     

Odd neutron nuclei near A=100: Rotational bands in103Mo and105Mo populated in theβ − decays of103Nb and105Nb

Theβ ^? decays of¹⁰³Nb and¹⁰⁵Nb have been studied at the fission product separators JOSEF and LOHENGRIN. Half-lives of (1.5±0.2) s and (2.95±0.06) s, respectively, have been determined for these decays. Fromγ singles andγ-γ coincidence measurements extended level schemes for¹⁰³Mo and¹⁰⁵Mo have been established for the first time. The lowest energy levels of these nuclei are consistent with the interpretation as members of rotational bands built on a 3/2⁺ [411] Nilsson state. Evidence is presented for the location of the 9/2⁺ [404] configuration.     

Theβ-decays of99Y and99Zr and the level schemes of99Zr and99Nb

Theβ-decays of⁹⁹Y and⁹⁹Zr have been investigated with the two recoil fission product separators JOSEF and LOHENGRIN. Half-lives of 1.51±0.08s and 2.1±0.1s respectively, have been determined. Aβ-decaying isomeric state has been observed in⁹⁹Y. The level schemes of ₄₀ ⁹⁹ Zr₅₉ and ₄₁ ⁹⁹ Nb₅₈ have been established fromγ-ray spectroscopy. Absoluteγ-intensities have been obtained by means of two independent techniques. Halflives of 293±10 ns for the 251.9 keV state and 10.2±1.5 ns for the 614.0 or 667.2 keV level in⁹⁹Zr have been measured through delayedβ,γ- andγ,γ-coincidence experiments. Values for the spins and parities of the low lying levels in⁹⁹Zr are proposed in accordance with the systematics of lighter odd Zr isotopes. Spins and partities are assigned to some levels in⁹⁹Nb fromγ,γ-angular correlation measurements. In this nucleus there is evidence for three-particle configurations of some excited states, where the odd proton is coupled to two neutrons which are in different orbits.     

The collective structure of106,108Ru

Levels in^106,108Ru have been studied by measuringγγ coincidences andγγ directional correlations of theγ-rays following theβ ^?-decay of 36 s¹⁰⁶Tc and 5 s¹⁰⁸Tc. Tc activities were separated chemically from the fission products of thermal neutron induced fission of²³⁹Pu by the continuously running system “SISAK 2” and theγ-radiation was measured on-line. An extended level scheme for¹⁰⁸Ru, spin assignments,E2/M1 multipole mixing ratios andB(E2) ratios for¹⁰⁶Ru and¹⁰⁸Ru have been obtained. The collective structure of the two nuclei is discussed in the framework of different nuclear models.     

Specific heat of the superfluid neutron matter in neutron star crusts

By means of X-γ andγ-γ coincidence measurements of the³⁵Cl+⁵⁸Ni reaction products, 38γ lines have been identified to be in coincidence with KX(Tc)-rays and assigned to the decay of⁹⁰Ru. Its half-life of 11±3 s has been deduced from the 154.6 keVγ-decay. The result supports our previous identification of⁹⁰Ru produced in the same reactions.     

The decay of 18.2m 104Tc

¹⁰⁴Tc was produced through the¹⁰⁴Ru(n, p)¹⁰⁴Tc reaction using target material enriched to 99.7% in¹⁰⁴Ru. The energies and intensities of theγ-rays emitted by¹⁰⁴Tc were measured with a multichannel Ge(Li) spectrometer. A revised level scheme is proposed which contains 33 levels and incorporates 85γ- ray transitions. The half life of¹⁰⁴Tc was observed to be 18.2±0.5 min.     

The half-life of the 344 keV level in105Pd

By delayed coincidence techniques, the half-life of the 344 keV level in¹⁰⁵Pd, populated by the decay of¹⁰⁵Ag, was measured:T _1/2=(1.01±0.05) · 10^?9s. A comparison of this value with the prediction of the single-particle model shows good agreement for the 344 keVE2 transition.     

The level scheme of91Tc and theβ decay of91Ru(9/2+)

The level scheme of⁹¹Tc has been studied by means of in-beamγ-ray spectroscopy in the irradiations of⁵⁸Ni and⁵⁴Fe targets by⁴⁰Ca beams from the Munich MP tandem and the heavy ion post accelerator. A large number of positive as well as of negative parity yrast-levels with excitation energies up to 8 MeV has been established. The level scheme of⁹¹Tc has been compared with shell model claculations and a good agreement for all identified levels has been found. In parallel investigations of the residual activities of the reaction⁴⁰Ca→⁵⁴Fe, theβ decay of the (9/2⁺ ground) state of⁹¹Ru has been investigated. Aβ decay scheme of⁹¹Ru(9/2⁺) has been established. The half-life of⁹¹Ru(9/2⁺) has been measured to be 9±1 s.     

Gamma spectroscopic study of105Ru

Theγ radiation following thermal neutron capture in¹⁰⁴Ru has been investigated through singles, coincidence, and angular correlation measurements in order to solve existing discrepancies and to complete the knowledge about the transitional odd-N nucleus ₄₄ ¹⁰⁵ Ru₆₁. The resulting level andγ-decay scheme is found to be very similar to that of the odd-Z transitional nucleus ₆₁ ¹⁴⁹ Pm₈₈. Between the 11/2^?, 15/2^?, and 19/2^? states which are interpreted as members of the decoupled band, built on the unique parity 11/2^? single particle state, low spin states of negative parity are found at surprisingly low excitation energies above the 11/2^? state. In the frame of the particleplus-rotor model their positions would require a sharp decrease of the rotational parameter with increasing collective angular momentum of the soft core.     

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.     

Spin-flipβ − decay of even-even deformed nuclei110Ru and112Ru

Neutron-rich nuclides¹¹⁰Ru and¹¹²Ru produced in symmetric fission of²³⁸U by 20 MeV protons have been studied at the IGISOL facility by means ofβ-ray,γ-ray and conversion electron spectroscopy. A total of 12 and 6γ-transitions were observed in the decays of¹¹⁰Ru and¹¹²Ru, respectively. Multipolarities were determined for a few transitions. The beta decay half-life was determined to be 11.6±0.6 s for¹¹⁰Ru and 1.75±0.07 s for¹¹²Ru. As a side product, a new value of 2.1±0.3 s for theβ half-life of the¹¹²Rh 1⁺ state was obtained. The decay energy measured with the plastic scintillator was 2.81 ±0.05 MeV for¹¹⁰Ru and 4.52 ±0.08 MeV for¹¹²Ru. The beta decay schemes of¹¹⁰Ru and¹¹²Ru isotopes indicate that the main fraction of their beta strength resides in two 0⁺→1⁺ spin-flip transitions with their logf t values between 4.4 and 4.7. The decay energies and the energies of the 1⁺ GT states are compared with the macroscopic-microscopic model calculations. The observed GT-strengths are discussed in the framework of the deformed single-particle model.     

Levels in 106Ru and 108Ru

The decay schemes of 36 s ¹⁰⁶Tc and 5 s ¹⁰⁸Tc have been studied with γ-ray singles and γ-γ coincidence measurements. To separate the technetium nuclides from the fission products of ²³⁹Pu, an on-line chemical separation procedure has been developed which is based on multistep chemical separations of liquid phases by fast-rotating centrifuges (“SISAK”). The resulting level schemes of ¹⁰⁶Ru and ¹⁰⁸Ru, together with those of ¹⁰²Ru and ¹⁰⁴Ru, are interpreted in terms of the generalized collective model of Gneuss and Greiner. The potential-energy surfaces calculated from the spectroscopic data show a trend towards triaxial shapes for the very neutron-rich Ru nuclei.     

Theβ-decay of88Tc

Decay scheme, half life andQ _EC value of⁸⁸Tc were deduced from aβ-decay study. The neutron deficient nucleus⁸⁸Tc was produced by the⁵⁸Ni(³²S,pn)⁸⁸Tc reaction using beam energies of 100, 101 and 105 MeV. The ground- and isomeric states of⁸⁸Tc were found to decay to⁸⁸Mo with similar half lives of 5.8±0.2 and 6.4±0.8 sec. The most probable spins and parities of these states are 3⁺ and 6⁺, respectively, though the order in energy could not be determined. TheQ _EC value was deduced to be 8.6±1.3 MeV.     

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.     

Beta delayed proton emission from the 14s 21/2+ spin gap isomer in95Pd

The residual activities of the projectile-target system⁴⁰Ca→⁵⁸Ni have been investigated with gamma and proton multi spectrum analyses,γγ andpγ coincidences. Aβ decaying high-spin isomer in⁹⁵Pd withJ ^π=(21/2⁺), a half-life of 14±1 s and an excitation energy of about 2 MeV has been identified. It has been found that⁹⁵Pd ^m is aβ delayed proton precursor. The totalβ branching to proton emitting states has been determined to be (0.74±0.19)·10^?2. It has been observed that the final state in⁹⁴Ru, populated after proton emission, is dominantly the 8⁺ state. A decay scheme of⁹⁵Pd ^m has been derived.     

The decay of 31 sec98Zr, 2.9 sec98Nb and 51 min98Nb

TheΒ- andγ-radiations of⁹⁸Zr and^{98m, g} Nb have been investigated employing scintillation and semiconductor spectrometers and coincidence techniques. Sources of⁹⁸Nb were produced by the⁹⁸Mo(n, p)⁹⁸Nb reaction, sources of⁹⁸Zr by fission of²³⁵U with thermal neutrons applying chemical separations. For⁹⁸Zr, a half-life of 30.7±0.4 sec and aQ _β-value of 2.3±0.2 MeV were obtained, for the⁹⁸Nb isomers, half-lives of 2.86±0.06 sec and 51.3±0.4 min, andQ _β-values of 4.8±0.2 MeV and 4.5±0.2 MeV, respectively. Noγ-rays were observed in the decay of⁹⁸Zr. The decay of 2.9 sec⁹⁸Nb was found to involve 11γ-ray transitions. In the decay of 51 min⁹⁸Nb, 54γ-transitions were detected. Spin and parity of 1⁺ and 4^? were deduced for the isomeric states of⁹⁸Nb.     

Electron capture ratios in206Bi

The level scheme of⁹⁷Tc has been investigated by observing theγ-rays following the decay of 2.9-d⁹⁷Ru.γ-singles andγγ-coincidence measurements were carried out with Ge(Li)-detectors. The time difference of coincident γ-rays was measured as a third parameter. From the coincidence events, the intensities ofγγ-cascades were extracted. The⁹⁷Ru decay gives rise to 18γ-lines which could be fitted into a level scheme of⁹⁷Tc consisting of 9 levels. Spin and parity assignments of the levels were made from log(ft) values andγ-ray branching ratios. Discrepancies concerning the energy of the first 3/2^? state and the existence of a 946 keV level are discussed.     

Beta decay energies and nuclear masses of148Ba,148La and151Pr

Theβ-decay energy of the neutron-rich isotopes¹⁴⁸Ba,¹⁴⁸La and¹⁵¹Pr has been measured at the Institute Laue-Langevin (ILL). The¹⁴⁸Ba- and¹⁴⁸La-nuclei were produced using a high-temperature ion source at the OSTIS separator of this institute, whereas samples of¹⁵¹Pr were obtained from the thermal fission of²³⁹Pu, used as a target in the mass separator LOHENGRIN. At both instruments,βγ-coincidences were measured with a plastic scintillator telescope and a Ge(I)-detector, together withβ-singles andγ-singles spectra. Theβ-spectra emitted in coincidence with 44γ-lines in the decay of these nuclei have been evaluated. From their endpoint energies, the followingQ _β -values have been obtained:Q _β (¹⁴⁸Ba)=5115±60keV;Q _β (¹⁴⁸La)=7255±55 keV;Q _β (¹⁵¹Pr)=4170±75 keV. Using these results, the nuclear massesA of these nuclei can be calculated with a relative error ΔA/A?5·10^?7. In addition, the two-neutron separation energies and the mass excesses have been derived; the results are compared with recent predictions of theoretical mass calculations.     

Level structure of170Er observed in the decay of the 2.76 min170Ho

TheΒ ^?-decay of the longer-lived¹⁷⁰Ho isomer produced through the¹⁷⁰Er(n, p)¹⁷⁰Ho reaction has been investigated by using a versastile detector and coincidence equipment. The half-life andΒ ^?-decay energy were determined to beT _1/2=2.76±0.05 min andQ _β =3.85±0.15 MeV, respectively. In addition to the ground state band and some higher energy levels, the proposed level scheme of¹⁷⁰Er contains 11 states between 1.0 and 1.6 MeV (6 new ones), which are connected mutually by previously unknown low-energy transitions. Spin and/or parity assignments based mainly on coincidence data and multipolarity determinations are suggested for most of these states. By using systematic considerations and the nuclear projection model calculations several bands withK≧2 can be assigned tentatively. As a side result the half-life of¹⁶⁹Ho was determined to be 4.7 ±0.2 min.     

On the decay of73Ga to levels in73Ge

Theγ-radiation following the β^? decay of⁷³Ga has been studied. Singlesγ andγγ coincidence spectra were recorded with Ge(Li)-detectors. 17γ-rays were assigned to transitions in⁷³Ge, where 11 excited levels are proposed. From logft values based onγ-transition intensities, spin and parity assignments for the levels were deduced. The half-life of⁷³Ga was measured to (4.86±0.03) h. From allowedβ-transitions the ground state of⁷³Ga was assigned 3/2^?.