Identification of 180Pb

The α decay of the new isotope ¹⁸⁰Pb was observed in ⁴⁰Ca bombardments of ¹⁴⁴Sm: E _α = 7.23(4) MeV, and, \({T_{1/2}} = \left( {4_{ - 2}^{ + 4}} \right){\text{ ms}}\) . With this decay energy and the known mass of ¹⁷⁶Hg, the mass excess of ¹⁸⁰Pb was calculated to be ?1.98(5) MeV.     

Alpha-decay study of188Pb and180,182Hg

Theα decay of mass-separated¹⁸⁸Pb and^180,182Hg has been studied at the GSI on-line mass separator. Alpha singles spectra as well asα-X-t andα-e-t coincidence events were collected. Fine structure in theα decay of¹⁸⁸Pb was measured for the first time, feeding the 2₁ ⁺ and 0₂ ⁺ states in¹⁸⁴Hg. Theα decay of^180,182Hg feeds low-lying states in^176?178Pt. One of these states could be identified as a 0⁺ state. The deexcitation pattern could be established. As a by-product an alpha-decay scheme of¹⁸⁰Au towards levels in¹⁷⁶Ir is given.     

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.     

Three-particle correlations from208Pb+6Li

Three-particle correlations in the reaction²⁰⁸Pb+⁶Li were studied near the Coulomb threshold between \(E_{6_{Li} } = 24\) and 30 MeV. Three reaction mechanisms contribute predominantly to the observed coincidences of the charged particles: 1. Coulomb excitation of the 2.184 MeV,J=3⁺ state of⁶Li, followed by the decay intoα+d, 2. Deuteron pick-up of the⁶Li to the ground state of⁸Be and sequential decay into twoα-particles and 3. Neutron-transfer to the ground state and the first excited states of²⁰⁹Pb:²⁰⁸Pb(⁶Li,αp). The last two reaction mechanisms explain the previously measured large contributions to theα-channel relative to thed-channel.     

Identification of153Lu β decay

In the bombardment of a 270μg/cm ^{2 180}Hf target with⁴⁸ Ca projectiles at a primary beam energy of E/A=4.24 MeV/u the new nuclide²²⁵U was produced. The experiment was performed at the velocity filter SHIP. ²²⁵U was found to decay by α emission with E_α=(7880 ±20) keV (≈90%), (7830±20) keV (≈10%) and has a half-life ofT _1/2=(80 _?20 ⁺⁴⁰ ms).     

Interaction of 80 MeV12C with88Sr; Neutron transfer,inelastic scattering and spin alignment of the 2+ State of12C

Level structure of¹⁰²Cd has been studied via both¹⁰²In decay and nuclear reactions. Using⁹²Mo+¹⁴N at 86 MeV, the nucleus¹⁰²In was identified and its decay (T _1/2=24 ±4s) studied with the aid of on-line mass separation techniques. Levels of¹⁰²Cd were also populated with⁹²Mo+¹²C at 50 MeV and¹⁰²Pd+³He at 35 MeV reactions and investigated by means of standard in-beam techniques. A level scheme including states up to 4.5 MeV excitation energy is proposed and then discussed in the frame of available calculations.     

164Ta,identification of a new isotope

The new isotope¹⁶⁴Ta (T _1/2=13.6(2)s) was produced in the¹²⁷I(⁴⁰Ca, 3n) reaction and transported to a measuring station by helium jet. Decay properties were observed withα, γ, andγ-γ spectroscopy. TheZ assignment of the new isotope was based ongg-X-ray coincidence measurements. The mass assignment was deduced from measured excitation functions. The twoγ rays assigned to the new activity most likely originate from the 4⁺→2⁺→0⁺ decay sequence in¹⁶⁴Hf. A smallα branch, ≦0.016(5)%, with anα decay energy ofE _α=4,625(15) keV was found and assigned to the decay of¹⁶⁴Ta. The deduced upper limit of theα width for this branch,W _α≦0.6(2), is in accordance with those known for neighbouring nuclei.     

The alpha-branching ratios of the188,190,192Pb isotopes

Theα-branching ratios (b _α ) of^192,190,188Pb are measured using mass-separated sources. Different experimental set-ups are used — one detector as well as two detector set-ups — thereby detecting theα particles from the parent and/or viaα decay formed daughter nuclei, theβ-delayed gamma radiation from the parent and/or viaβ decay formed daughter nuclei and the Tl KX rays from electron capture decay. Values forb _α of 6.2(6) 10^?5 and 4.0(4) 10^-3 were found for^192,190Pb respectively. For¹⁸⁸Pb, limits on theb _α values were obtained: 0.03<b _α <0.10. A careful analysis of the previously reportedb _α values showed that the discrepancies in theb _α values were not due to inadequate correction procedures, as was suggested, but to experimental uncertainties in the efficiency determination of the different detection set-ups and to an unreliableβ-decay scheme for¹⁸⁸Pb. Theb _α obtained in this work show that the leadα decay is not faster than the Hgα decay and that there is no need to assume a disappearance of theZ=82 shell closure halfway betweenN=82 andN=126.     

Alpha decay properties of199Rn and199mRn

Theα-decays of¹⁹⁹Rn (E _α = (6.989±0.010) MeV,T _1/2>300ms) and of^199m Rn (E _α = (7.060±0.015) MeVT _1/2=(61 _?2 ⁺³² ) ms) were identified by anα-α-correlation method. They proceed via separated decay paths to¹⁹⁵Po and^195m Po, respectively. The spins of the involved states are discussed by aid of the shell model, and a tentative spin assignment is given.     

Production and decay of269110

In an experiment carried out to identify element 110, we have observed anα-decay chain, that can be unambiguously assigned to²⁶⁹110. In a scries of preexperiments the excitation functions of the fusion reactions⁵⁰Ti +²⁰⁸Pb→²⁵⁸104^* and⁵⁸Fe +²⁰⁸Pb→²⁶⁶108^* were measured with high precision in order to get the optimum projectile energies for the production of these heavy elements. The cross-section maxima of the 1n evaporation channels were observed at excitation energies of 15.6 MeV and 13.4 MeV, respectively. These data result in an optimum excitation energy of 12.3 MeV of the compound nucleus for the production of²⁶⁹110 in the reaction⁶²Ni +²⁰⁸Pb→²⁶⁹110 + 1n. In irradiations at the corresponding beam energy of 311 MeV we have observed a decay chain of 4 subsequent a decays. This can be assigned to the isotope with the mass number 269 of the element 110 on the basis of delayed α-α coincidences. The accurately measured decay data of the daughter isotopes of the elements 108 to 102, obtained in the previous experiments, were used. The isotope²⁶⁹110 decays with a hair-life of (270 _-120 ⁺¹³⁰⁰ ) μs by emission of (11.132±0.020) MeV alpha particles. The production cross-section is (3.3 _-2.7 ^+6.2 ) pb.     

The charge radii of198Pt-183Pt

The reactions⁵⁸Ni+¹⁰²Pd→¹⁶⁰W and⁵⁸Ni+¹⁰⁶Cd→¹⁶⁴Os were investigated to search for new decay data of neutron deficient nuclei. Excitation energies of the compound nuclei covered a range from 47 to 89 MeV. Velocity separation of the evaporation residues and position time correlations with the a decays of the implanted nuclei were used. The following new decay data were measured:¹⁶²Os (E_α=(6611 ±30) keV, T_1/2=(1.9±0.7) ms);¹⁵⁸W (T_1/2=(0.9±0.3) ms);¹⁵⁸m_W (E=1.88 MeV, E_α=(8280±30) keV, T_1/2=(0.01-1) ms);^155mLu (E_α=(5575±10) keV); β decay of¹⁵⁶Ta (T_1/2 > 10 ms) to the 8⁺ yrast isomer in¹⁵⁶Hf. A cross section of 5μb was measured for the new isotope¹⁵⁶Ta produced in a p3n evaporation channel from¹⁶⁰W at 64 MeV excitation energy.     

Spectroscopy of excited states in212Po,210Pb,and213At employing18O induced few-nucleon transfer reactions

γ-ray spectroscopic techniques have been applied to measure properties of excited states (E ^*<2MeV) in²¹⁰Pb,²¹²Po, and²¹³At after populating these neutron rich (N=128) nuclei via¹⁸O induced few-nucleon transfer reactions on²⁰⁸Pb and²⁰⁹Bi targets. In²¹²Po an isomeric state is located atE ^*=1,477 keV with a halflife oft _1/2=14.7±0.3 ns. This state is interpreted to be the 8⁺ yrast level which decays to the ground state via the measured $$8^ + \left( {121.1 keV} \right)6^ + \left( {223.3 keV} \right)4^ + \left( {405.1 keV} \right)2^ + \left( {727.8 keV} \right)0^ + $$ γ-cascade.α-decay (E _α≈10.2 MeV) of the isomer is also observed. In²¹⁰Pb the time spectra for members of the 4⁺ (297.8keV) 2⁺ (799.4keV)0⁺ γ-cascade show a delayed component with a halflife oft _1/2=152±13 ns which is attributed to the known 8⁺ yrast state atE ^*=1.27 MeV. For²¹³At first results on theγ-decay of excited states are presented.     

Pre-equilibrium alpha emission accompanying deep-inelastic16O+58Ni collisions

α particles were measured in coincidence with projectile-like reaction products (oxygen and carbon) produced in deep-inelastic¹⁶O+⁵⁸Ni collisions at about 6 MeV/N bombarding energy. The kinematic analysis of the HI andα energies measured as a function ofΘ _α gives strong evidence for a sequential process: the target-like fragments are excited by the deep-inelastic collision and undergo subsequentα decay. In contrast, the angular correlations show a pronounced forward peak, indicative of direct or pre-equilibriumα emission. The emission time for the latter is estimated to be of the order of 2×10^?21 s. To resolve this conflict of co-existing statistical and direct features of the pre-equilibrium emission, the concept of a hot spot is proposed. From the angular correlation and from theα multiplicities, a local temperature ofT?3.5 MeV is deduced which agrees well with the temperature derived from the shape of theα spectra. The spot size is estimated to be 1/5 of the sphere.     

Determination of the fission barrier of232Pu from β-delayed fission and the problem of the first barrier

A delayed fission activity with a half-life of (55±7) s and a production cross section of (5±1)nb has been observed in the irradiation of²³⁷Np with 104 MeVα particles. It is tentatively assigned to the electron capture decay of²³²Am followed by fission of²³²Pu With a probability of (1.3 _?0.8 ⁺⁴ )· 10^?2 A barrier height of (5.3±0.4) MeV is extracted for²³²Pu exceeding theoretical barrier heights by about 2MeV. Systematic deviations between experimental and theoretical barrier heights previously observed in particular for U and Th isotopes are now also established for neutron deficient Pu isotopes indicating severe defects in the procedure of calculating static fission barriers.     

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.     

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.     

An evidence for a possible stable dibaryon

A search for stableH-dibaryon ofI=0,Y=0,J ^P =0⁺ was undertaken in negative pion-, neutron-,¹²C-nucleus- and proton-propane interactions at 4.0, 7.0, 50.4 and 10 GeV/c, respectively, using 55 cm and 2 m propane bubble chambers. This technique permite one to examine the whole range of possibleH-mass value. In the range ofM _H >2M _Λ=2231.2 MeV/c² an enhancement ofM _ΛΛ=(2365.3±9.6) MeV/c², Γ _ΛΛ =(47.2±15.1) MeV/c² with production cross section σ=(24.2±7.0) μb per carbon nucleus was found. The mass rangeM _Σ?p<M _H <2M _Λ was explored via the search for a weak decay modeH→Σ^?+p. AV ⁰-particle was found pointing to a two-prong interaction and satisfying the kinematics of the above two-body decay mode with a high confidence level. The possibility of imitation of the observed event by background processes was investigated for a series of two-step strong reactions and weak decays. We succeeded to show the significance of theH-production hypothesis on a deuteron-mass nuclear fluctuon via thepd→HpK ⁺ K ⁰ reaction. The mass of the event treated as aH→Σ^?+p weak decay appeared to be (2173.94±1.32) MeV/c², its life-time being 0.668·10^?10 s. Both are in agreement with predictions of the MIT Bag Model for the so-calledH-dihyperon. The formally determined production cross section of theH in proton-propane interactions at 10 GeV/c is estimated to be 40 nb. Perhaps, this event can be considered as a first evidence for a six-quark bound state-H-dihyperon. An independent way for the search for theH-particle, based on a specific conversion processHN→YYN, peculiar to its intranuclear strong interactions was proposed and tried. For this purpose all events with two Λ-hyperons and identified protons were tested for the hypothesesH _p →ΛΛp at three fixed masses:M _H =1880.00, 2173.94 MeV/c² and the ΛΛ invariant mass for the event in question. The kinematics of this reaction fits successfully only one event and only atM _H =2173.94 MeV/c². It seems worthy of note that the final state ΛΛ invariant massM _ΛΛ=2344 MeV/c² is rather close to the observed peak at 2365 MeV/c². It is shown that the intranuclear conversion processes Ξ^? p→ΛΛ and Ξ⁰ n→ΛΛ fail to imitate the observed event. The ΛΛp invariant mass of this event equal to 3363 MeV/c² is out of a 3568 MeV/c² peak region of the ΛΛp invariant mass spectrum observed earlier. TheH conversion cross section exceeds the production one. Thus, we consider this event as providing a new evidence for the stableH-dibaryon ofM _H =(2173.94±1.32) MeV/c².     

Groundstate proton radioactivity of nuclei in the tin region

Proton radioactivities with decay energies of (0.98±0.08) MeV and (0.83±0.08) MeV were produced by the fusion reactions⁵⁸Ni+⁵⁸Ni→¹¹⁶Ba ? and⁵⁸Ni+⁵⁴Fe→¹¹²Xe ?, and their halflives were measured to be (33±7) μs and (109±17) μs, respectively. The intensities of the lines correspond to production cross sections of about 30 μb and 40 μb. The two activities are assigned to the direct proton decay of¹¹³Cs and¹⁰⁹I. The measured halflives are compared with values calculated ford _5/2 andg _7/2 groundstates of¹⁰⁹I and¹¹³Cs and spectroscopic factors are deduced for the decays. An extensive search for the proton decay of¹⁰⁵Sb, produced in the reaction⁵⁰Cr(⁵⁸Ni,p2 n)¹⁰⁵Sb, had a negative result, excluding decay energies between 0.5 MeV and 1.5 MeV for halflives between 10 ns and 5 s.     

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.     

Excitation function for the production of 265108 and 266109

The excitation function for the production of²⁶⁶109 by the reaction ⁵⁸Fe + ²⁰⁹Bi was investigated. Its position and width could be reproduced using the same values (E* = 13.9 MeV; FWHM=4.8 MeV) as inthe case of²⁶⁵108 produced by the reaction ⁵⁸Fe + ²⁰⁸Pb. A cross-section maximum of (7.5 ± 2.7) pb was obtained. Referred to ²⁶⁵108, this value is reduced by a factor of 8.8 ± 3.3, that is more than the average reduction of cross-section by 3.7 per element. The hindrance factor of 2.4 ± 0.9 could be due to a specialization energy in the fusion process by the unpaired proton of ²⁰⁹Bi in the h_9/2 orbital. A total of twelve decay chains of ²⁶⁶109 was measured, resulting in a mean half-life of ( _1.7?0.4 ^+0.6 ) ms. The new data confirm the decay data of the previously measured two decays of ²⁶⁶109.