The structure of28Si above 10 MeV excitation energy III: Level scheme and shell model interpretation

²⁸Si level scheme up to 14.5 MeV excitation energy is reevaluated using information from two preceding papers. It consists of approximately 250 levels which are almost completely characterized according to the quantum numbersI, π, T of the levels. The properties of positive-parity states are compared to the predictions of shell model calculations within the completes-d basis space using the unifieds-d shell Hamiltonian. A spectrum of 48 experimentalT=1 states between 9.3 and 16 MeV is reproduced with a rms deviation of only 150 keV. A calculation of radiative widths and γ-decay modes which uses free-nucleong-factors yields excellent agreement with experiment and confirms that quenching of M1 transitions is only marginal in²⁸Si. The detailed shell model analysis of theT=0 spectrum is extended to the limiting energy whereT=1 wave function admixtures, not contained in the theory, become important experimentally. This happens at 6–8 MeV above the yrast state, depending on the spin value. Altogether it appears that a spectrum of 171 levels below 14.5 MeV, which have positive or unassigned parity, is almost completely accounted for by the model. Apparent intruder states from outside thes-d shell space are observed atE _x =10 945 keV (I ^π=4⁺) and 12 860 keV (I ^π=6⁺) and are interpreted as members of aK ^π=0⁺ rotational band.     

Structure of28Si from the spectroscopy of high-spin states

A search for high-spin states in²⁸Si has been performed byn?y coincidence measurements in the²⁵Mg(α,nγy) reaction atE _α=14 and 15.5 MeV. Spin-parity assignments of the observed levels were obtained fromn?γ angular correlation and lifetime measurements atE _α=14.5 MeV. Theγ-decay of the 9,164 keV level was investigated separately with the²⁷Al(p, γ) reaction at theE _p=2,160 and 2,312 keV resonances. Rotational bands withK ^π=3^? (comprising levels atE _x=6,879, 8,413, 10,188 and 12,204 keV),K ^π =5^? (comprising levels atE _x=9,702, 11,577 and 13,741 keV) andK ^π=0⁺ (comprising levels atE _x=6,691, 7,381, 9,164 and 11,509 keV) were observed. The finding of the latter band supports the idea of coexisting oblate and prolate shapes in²⁸Si. A level at 14,643 keV excitation energy has the properties of theI ^π=8⁺ member of the ground state band. There are additional positive-parity high-spin states which do not fit into rotational bands. All types of positive-parity states are well accounted for by shell model calculations.     

Search for missing predicted high-spin states in28Si

New shell model calculations have predicted several high-spin (I ^π=5⁺ and 6⁺) levels in²⁸Si near 10 MeV excitation energy which are missing from or ambiguous in existing experimental studies. Angular distributions, linear polarizations and Doppler-shifts ofγ-rays have been measured for theγ-decay of theE _p=1,911 and 2,073 KeV resonances of the²⁷Al(p, γ) reaction in an attempt to discover these missing states or confirm the discrepancies between experiment and theory. The excitation energies and spin-parities of the resonances were determined as 13,424.4±0.2 keV,I ^π=5⁺ and 13,582.3±0.5 keV,I ^π=6⁺. States populated in theγ-decay of these resonances were assigned spins and parities as follows: 11,777 keV,I ^π=5⁺; 11,331 keV,I ^π=6⁺; 10,417 keV,I ^π=5⁺; 9,417 keV,I ^π=4⁺ and 8,945 keV,I ^π=5⁺. On the basis ofγ-ray transition rates T=1 is assigned to the 13,424 keV level and T=0 to the 10,417 and 11,777 keV levels. With the new data excellent agreement is achieved between the experimental spectrum of²⁸Si and the new shell model predictions. These data provide evidence for aK ^π=3⁺ rotational band comprised by the 6,276, 6,889, 8,945 and 11,331 keV levels. This band emerges also from the shell model wave functions as do theK ^π=0⁺ bands based on the ground state and the 6,691 keV state.     

High-spin states in26Mg

Theγ-decays of levels in²⁶Mg have been investigated up to 12.5 MeV excitation energy by proton-γ-ray coincidence measurements in the²³Na(α, pγ) reaction at 14.2 and 16 MeV bombarding energy. Lifetime-measurements, made with the Doppler-shift attenuation method, and proton-γ-ray angular-correlation measurements were performed at E_α=14.2 MeV. Many high-spin states were observed, among them levels at 6,978 (5⁺), 7,283(4^?), 7,395(5⁺), 7,953(5^?), 8,202(6⁺), 8,472(6⁺), 9,065(5), 9,112(6⁺), 9,169(6^?), 9,383 (6⁺), 9,542(5), 9,829(7⁺), 9,989(6⁺) and 12,479(8⁺, 7^?) keV excitation energy. The spectrum of positive-parity states and their electromagnetic properties are reproduced with good accuracy by shell-model calculations which employ a unifieds-d shell Hamiltonian and the unrestricted configuration space of the 0d _5/2 1s _1/2 0d _3/2 shell. Members of five inferred rotational bands, withK ^π=0⁺, 2⁺, 3⁺, 0⁺ and 3^? have been observed up to at leastI=6. TheK ^π=2⁺ band shows strong anomalies of excitation energies andE2 transition rates near theI=6 state. The static intrinsic quadrupole moments calculated from the shell model wave functions indicate transitions from prolate to oblate deformation within theK ^π=2⁺ band and also the ground state band. The lowest lyingI ^π=4⁺ state appears to be “spherical” and cannot be associated with a rotational band.     

High-spin states in109Sn and their decay to the ground state

An extended level scheme of¹⁰⁹Sn is presented showing high-spin states up to E_x≈ 8 MeV and spins up toJπ=(41/2+). Their decay to the 5/2+ ground state has been observed identifying a 12.8 keV 7/2⁺ → 5/2⁺ transition. A half-life of T_1/2=7(1) ns has been measured for the 17/2⁺ state atE _x =2114 keV. The experimental data are compared with the predictions of shell-model calculations.     

The structure of 32S I. Spectroscopy of highly-excited states

Assignments of I, π, T are made to 30 levels in ³²S between 7.35 and 11.76 MeV excitation energy, making the spectroscopy of the T= 0 states rather complete up to 10 MeV and that of the T = 1 states up to 12 MeV. A reassessment of existing data in the light of the new results clarifies the spectrum of I ^π = 1⁺, T = 1 states up to 15 MeV excitation energy. High-spin states (I = 52 - 7) below 10 MeV excitation energy have been investigated by n t γ angular-correlation measurements with the ²⁹Si(α, nγ) reaction at E _α 14.4 MeV. Five g-wave resonances of the ³¹P(p, γ) reaction, leading to the formation of I _π + 4⁺, 5⁺ states in ³²S, have been identified between 10 and 12 MeV excitation energy. The spectrum of T = 1 states between 10.7 and 12 MeV, has been investigated by measurements of γ-ray angular distributions on resonances of the ³¹P(p, γ) reaction and by measurements of resonance strengths. Several ³²S levels between 7.35 and 8.75 MeV excitation energy were studied as final states in resonance decays. Finally a search was performed for I ^π = 0⁺ resonances of the ²⁸Si(α, γ) reaction.     

The structure of25Mg

Gamma-decay modes and spin(-parity) assignments of levels in²⁵Mg have been systematically investigated up to 10 MeV excitation energy by particle-γ-ray angularcorrelation measurements with the²⁴Mg(d, pγ) reaction at 6.5 MeV bombarding energy and with the²²Ne(α,nγ) reaction at 11.8, 12.5, 14.4 and 15.5 MeV bombarding energy. A level scheme has been established which is comprehensive up to 8.3 MeV excitation energy forI≦9/2 and up to 10 MeV for 9/2O d _5/2 — 1s _1/2-O d _3/2 shell and the unifieds-d shell Hamiltonian. The agreement is good to excellent. The first intruder states are located near 6.8 MeV excitation energy. The collective properties of²⁵Mg beyond the well established rotational bands are investigated using both the new experimental information and theB(E2)'s obtained from the shell model. The spectrum of²⁵Mg is completely rotational for the first five to six MeV above the yrast line. Shell modelB (M 1)'s reflect the Nilsson model structure of²⁵Mg in great detail. The prospectiveI ^π=9/2^?, 13/2^?, and 15/2^? members of the established negative-parity,K=1/2 band are found in levels atE _x=7801, 9410, and 8896 keV.     

Recoil distance lifetime measurements in82Kr

The lifetimes τ=124±12, 6 _?2 ⁺⁴ and 380±100 ps of theE _x (I ^π )=3.46(8⁺), 2.92(6⁺) and 3.04(6^?) MeV states, respectively, populated by the reaction⁷⁶Ge(¹²C,α2n) were measured with the recoil distance method. In addition upper lifetime limits were obtained for nine states. The measured lifetimes and energies indicate a band crossing at aboutI ^π =8⁺, probably arising from the alignment of twog _9/2 neutrons. For the 3.04 MeV 6^? state as a second member of a band built on the 2.65 MeV 4^? state the measured lifetime points to a two-quasiparticle configuration. The positive-parity states have been discussed in the frame of the interacting boson approximation, nuclear field theory and the cranked shell model.     

Shell model and octupole states in148Gd from in-beam experiments

Through (α, 4n) and (τ, 3n) reactions the high-spin states in the two-neutron nucleus¹⁴⁸Gd were populated up toI ^π=21? at 7.2 MeV, including numerous states above the yrast line. The¹⁴⁸Gd energy spectrum is interpreted in terms of the spherical shell model. Identification of the (νf _7/2 i _{1 3/2})_10? state gives the νi _13/2 single particle energy free of octupole admixtures as 2.1(1) MeV. Eight high-spin states between 1.2 and 3.7 MeV were identified as the couplings of the two valence-particles to the¹⁴⁶Gd octupole phonon, and three above-lying levels are assigned as double-octupole excitations including a 12⁺ state which decays by anE3-E3 stretched cascade. All these octupole levels can be quantitatively predicted from the one-particle x phonon spectrum of¹⁴⁷Gd. The high-spin states above 3 MeV are four-quasiparticle excitations ofπ ⁺¹ π ^?1 ν ² andπ ² ν ² type and their energies are in good accord with shell model estimates.     

High-spin states in27Al

The²⁴Mg(α, p γ) reaction has been studied atα-particle energies of 13, 15, and 15.2 MeV. Using method II of Litherland and Ferguson spin assignments or restrictions thereof could be made to the²⁷Al levels atE _x =5500 keV (I=11/2, 7/2), 6950 keV (I=11/2, 7/2), 7226 keV (I=9/2), 7286 keV (I=9/2–13/2), 7399 keV (I=11/2, 7/2) and 7443 keV (I=13/2, 9/2). Using the Doppler-shift attenuation method a lifetimeτ=20–50 fs was obtained for theE _x =7399 keV level and a limitτ<20 fs for the levels atE _x =7443, 7286, 7226, 6950, 6718, and 6287 keV, respectively. Further spin assignments in²⁷Al were obtained by a study of the²⁶Mg(p, γ) reaction at the E_p=2174 keV resonance. Fromγ-ray angular distributions the resonance spin was determined as I=9/2 (previous assignmentI=7/2) and the spin of theE _x =5959 keV level was determined asI=7/2. Tentative spin assignments were made to the levels atE _x =6537 keV (I=7/2) and 6718 keV (I=9/2). From the combined evidence of the²⁴Mg(α, p) and²⁶Mg(p, γ) reactions the spin of the 6287 keV level was found to beI=7/2. The results are compared with shell model calculations and the Nilsson model.     

An investigation of excited states in32S by the31P(p, γ)32S reaction

The³¹P(p, γ)³²S reaction has been studied in the proton energy region 300–1420 keV using Ge(Li)-techniques. Gamma decay schemes of 16 resonances are proposed. The branching ratios of the resonance states and 23 bound states are presented. The spin of theE _x=7116 keV level was found to beJ ^π=2⁺. In addition, the present results are compared with earlier ones.     

The structure of27Al

Gamma decay modes and spin assignments of levels in²⁷Al have been investigated by proton-γ-ray angular correlation measurements in the²⁴Mg(α, pγ) reaction at 14.2, 15 and 15.6 MeV bombarding energy and byγ-ray angular distribution measurements on the E_p=1820, 2114, 2293 and 2574 keV resonances of the²⁶Mg(p, γ) reaction. Unique spin assignments were obtained as follows: I=3/2 for the 5827 keV state, I=5/2 for the 6115, 6465, 6765, 7577, 7721, 8097, 8136, 8324 keV states, I=7/2 for the 5433, 6533, 7413, 8037, 8442, 8586 keV states, I=9/2 for the 5418, 6512, 6713, 7997 keV states, I=11/2 for the 5500, 6948, 7400, 8396 keV states. The level scheme and electromagnetic properties of levels are compared with the results of shell model calculations which use the complete configuration space of the 0d_5/2-1s_1/2-0d_3/2 shell and the unifieds-d shell Hamiltonian. The agreement is good to excellent and extends into the region of high level density above 7 MeV excitation energy. The total B(M1↑) below 8.5 MeV excitation energy is evaluated, using published resonance fluorescence and (e, e′) data, and quenching relative to the free-nucleon predictions is reexamined. Evidence in favour of a prolate ground state deformation of²⁷Al and implications of this work for the astrophysically interesting²⁶Al(p, γ) reaction are discussed.     

New aspects of the rotational model in25Mg

Spin assignments have been made to the²⁵Mg levels in theE _x=5–6 MeV region fromγ-ray angular distributions measured in the²²Ne(α, n y) reaction atE _α=8.0 and 8.8 MeV and fromp-γ angular correlations measured in the²⁴Mg(d, p γ) reaction atE _d=6 MeV. Unique spin assignments ofJ=7/2, 5/2, 5/2, and 9/2 could be made to the levels atE _x=5005, 5511, 5851, and 5967 keV, respectively. Ambigious assignments have been made to the levels atE _x=5245, 5524, 5785, 6032 keV (J=11/2, 7/2), 5455 keVJ=13/2, 9/2), and 5738 keV (J=3/2, 5/2). The present data confirm previous assignments ofJ=1/2 to the levels atE _x=5108 and 5466 keV, respectively. Lifetime estimates have been obtained, using the Doppler-shift attenuation method, for the levels atE _x=5245 keV (τ=30–60 fs), 5785 keV (τ=50–100 fs), 5967 keV (τ=50–100 fs), and 5455 keV (τ>1ps). All other levels in theE _x=5–6 MeV region haveτ<60 fs. A breakdown of theK-selection rule has been observed in theγ-decay of some high spin states, indicating a deviation from the strong coupling model.     

The gamma decay of analogue states in61Cu

Resonances in the reaction⁶⁰Ni(p, γ)⁶¹Cu have been studied in the proton energy rangesE _p=1840–1880 keV and 2220–2300 keV. Decay schemes and branching ratios have been determined for a number of resonances, three of which are identified as analogue fragments of the 283 keV (1/2^?) and 656 keV (3/2^?) states in⁶¹Ni. The split analogue components of the 283 keV state atE _x≈6.6 MeV are seen to decay significantly to a group of states in the region of excitation 3–4 MeV. Gamma ray angular distributions yield the following resonance spins:E _p=2248 keV,J=3/2;E _p=2263 keV,J=5/2. Also, the⁶¹Cu ground stateβ ⁺ decay to parent levels in⁶¹Ni has been compared to the respective analogue stateM1 gamma decay to the⁶¹Cu ground state.     

High-spin states in48Ti

The⁴⁵Sc(α, p γ) reaction has been investigated atE ^α=11, 12 and 13MeV. Theγ-decay of 198 levels in⁴⁸Ti up to 8,323 keV excitation energy has been observed. High-spin states were investigated by proton-γ ray angular correlation measurements atE=11 and 13MeV and by DSAM lifetime measurements atE=11 MeV. From the combined evidence spin (-parity) assignments were obtained for the levels atE _x =8,323 keV (J= 10,8,6), 8,091(12, 10, 8, 6), 7,668(10, 8), 7,427(9, 7), 7,374(11, 9, 7), 6,906(10, 8, 6), 6,172(8⁺,6⁺), 6,102(10⁺,8⁺), 6,039(6), 6,034(9⁺, 7⁺), 5,630(7), 5,197(8⁺), 5,169(7⁺), 5,155(5), 4,404(5), 4,398(6⁺) and 4,046keV (5). Most of the ambiguous spin assignments become unique if the 8,091 keV level hasJ=12, an assumption which is favoured by its excitation function. The level spectrum thus obtained is well reproduced by shell model calculations in the pure (f _7/2)⁸ configuration space. Discrepancies exist in the reproduction ofγ-decay modes. The reason is found in low-lying high-spin intruder states which include the 7,427 and 8,323 keV levels. The spectrum of negative-parity states is understood qualitatively by a comparison with⁴⁶Ti and⁴²Ca.     

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.     

Search for high-spin states in29Si using a neutron time-of-flight spectrometer

The²⁶Mg(α,nγ) reaction has been used in connection with a neutron time-of-flight spectrometer to search for high spin states in²⁹Si betweenE _x =8.4 and 11.4 MeV. The γ-decay of twenty levels has been observed. Nine levels have not been observed before. A candidate for theJ ^π=13/2^?,K=7/2 state has been located with theE _x =8761 keV level.     

T=1 states in26Al

The resonance reaction²⁵Mg(p, γ)²⁶Al in the energy rangeE _p =300–400 keV was used to populate high-lying bound states in the self-conjugate nucleus²⁶Al. The existence of three resonances atE _p =304, 316 and 388 keV was verified, the spins of the ones at 316 and 388 keV were found to be 3^? and 2⁺, respectively. The spin of the bound level at 4,547 keV level was fixed to beJ ^π=2⁺. Several strong isovector Ml transitions were observed, which led toT=1 assignments for the levels atE _x =4,191, 4,547, 4,599, 5,141 and 5,542 keV. The results for excitation energies and values ofJ ^π,T together with previous experimental and theoretical data on²⁶Al and the neighboring |T _z |=1 nuclei²⁶Mg and²⁶Si are discussed in the framework of the isospin model.     

Triple differential cross section for angle,atomic number and energy (or angular momentum transfer) calculated for the 280MeV40Ar+58Ni (or 365MeV63Cu+197Au) system in a simple model

Highly excited levels of³³S populated by α-particle capture in²⁹Si have been investigated forE _α=1.962 MeV to 4.287 MeV. Excitation curves measured with Ge(Li) and BF₃ detectors are reported. More than fifty resonances can be identified with levels in³³S. (α, γ) angular distributions measured on five strong resonances have yieldedJ ^π values 1/2+, 3/2 +, 5/2?, 5/2?, 5/2? and 3/2+ respectively, for theE _x =10.054, 10.466, 10.523, 10.721, 10.758 and 10.776 MeV levels in³³S. Elastic scattering experiments have been performed and theJ ^π assignments are found to be consistent with thel-values inferred from the elastic scattering data. Decay schemes from the above³³S levels have been proposed. A new level at 9.245 MeV is also suggested and theJ ^π values for the 4.425 and 2.87 MeV states are shown to be consistent with 7/2+ and 3/2+ assignment, respectively. Nuclear Reactions²⁹Si(α, γ) and²⁹Si(α, α),E _α=1.962-4.287 MeV. Measured relative σ(E). DeducedJ ^π andE _γ of³³S levels. New³³S level atE _x =9.245 MeV. Enriched targets.