Untersuchungen isomerer Übergänge in140Pr und142Pr

The lifetimes of isomeric transitions in¹⁴⁰Pr and¹⁴²Pr have been measured in a pulsed-beam experiment at the Erlangen EN-Tandem accelerator with the aid of the reactions¹⁴⁰Ce (p, nγ)¹⁴⁰Pr and¹³⁹La (α, nγ)¹⁴²Pr. In the energy range 50 keV≦Eγ≦1.5 MeV we found a new delayed transition in¹⁴²Pr and established two previously reported isomers in¹⁴⁰Pr.     

High-spin levels in138Ce and140Nd Observed in the (α, 4n γ) reactions

Levels of¹³⁸Ce and¹⁴⁰Nd have been studied using the¹³⁸Ba(α,4nγ)¹³⁸Ce and¹⁴⁰Ce(α, 4nγ)¹⁴⁰Nd reactions. Singleγ-ray spectra,γ-γ coincidence spectra, angular and time distributions with respect to the beam bursts have been measured. A number of higher excited states with excitation energies up to about 5 MeV and with spin value up to 12 are populated in both nuclei. The lower states with spins and parities 7^?, 5^?, 6^? and 10⁺ can be explained by two-quasiparticle neutron configurations of the types (h _11/2 ^?1 ,d _3/2 ^?1 ) 7^? , (h _11/2 ^?1 ,S _1/2 ^?1 ) 5^?, 6^? and (h _11/2 ^?2 ) 10⁺. Several high-spin states observed in¹³⁸Ce and¹⁴⁰Nd can be explained qualitatively as four-quasiparticle states with two-proton-two-neutron configurations. The 3^? state at an energy of 2,137.4 keV is observed in¹³⁸Ce. The evidence for the existence of the low-lying 3^? states in¹⁴⁰Nd at 2,124.0 keV is discussed. Beside the known 9.6 ms (7^?) isomeric state in¹³⁸Ce another state at 3,538.5keV (10⁺) with a half life of about 200 ns has been observed. The observed levels in the¹³⁸Ce and¹⁴⁰Nd nuclei are compared with theoretical predictions using delta force interaction.     

High-spin states in154Er

High-spin states in¹⁵⁴Er have been populated by bombarding¹⁴⁷Sm and¹⁴⁸Sm with¹²C particles. Excitation functions, lifetimes, angular distributions andγ-γ coincidences were measured. AT _1/2=35ns isomeric state atE _x～3 MeV has been found and is interpreted as a two-quasi-particle state with aligned angular momenta. A cascade of intense individual lines from states with spin up to at least 26 (excitation energy up to 8.543 MeV) was found to feed the isomeric state. The level sequence above this yrast trap exhibits an irregular pattern which cannot be easily interpreted in terms of collective modes.     

Quasirotational groundstate bands of even-even nuclei with 50≦N,Z≦82

The quasirotational groundstate bands of¹⁴⁰Sm,¹⁴²Sm,¹⁴⁴Gd and¹³⁶Nd have been determined by studying the prompt γ-decay after (α,xn+yp+zα.) reactions using α-particles of up to 104 MeV and targets of¹⁴⁴Sm,¹⁴²Nd,¹⁴¹Pr,¹⁴⁰Ce,¹³⁶Ce and¹³⁹La. The new levels continue the trends of the neighbouring even-even nuclides smoothly. These systematics of the groundstate bands in the region 50<N,Z<82 are not disturbed by expected subshell closure effects.     

Atomic masses of rare earth isotopes145Pm,145Sm and151Gd,derived from decay measurements of145Sm and151Gd

The comparison of experimental with calculated K-capture probabilities yielded the decay energies of¹⁴⁵Sm and¹⁵¹Gd,Q _EC=622(5) and 463(3) keV, respectively. Earlier discrepancies in the mass adjustment of these isotopes were removed and adjusted masses for¹⁴⁵Sm,¹⁴⁵Pm and¹⁵¹Gd derived. In the decay of¹⁵¹Gd five newγ-rays were found and the half-life remeasured to be 129(4) d.     

High-spin levels in137,139Ce and139,141Nd evidence for hole-core coupling

Excited states of the¹³⁷Ce,¹³⁹Ce,¹³⁹Nd and¹⁴¹Nd nuclei have been studied using the¹³⁸Ba(α, 5nγ)¹³⁷Ce,¹³⁸Ba(³He, 4nγ)¹³⁷Ce,¹³⁸Ba(α, 3nγ)¹³⁹Ce,¹⁴⁰Ce(α, 5nγ)¹³⁹Nd,¹⁴⁰Ce(³He,4nγ)¹³⁹Nd,¹⁴⁰Ce(α, 3nγ)¹⁴¹Nd and¹⁴²Ce(α, 5nγ)¹⁴¹Nd reactions. Singlesγ-ray spectra,γ —γ coincidence spectra, angular distributions and time distributions ofγ-rays with respect to beam pulses have been measured. Gamma transitions between excited states with spin values up to 21/2, 23/2 or 25/2 have been observed. Isomeric states with T_1/2=70 ns have been observed in¹³⁹Ce at 2631.5 keV (19/2) and in¹⁴¹Nd probably at 2952.0 keV (19/2). The level structure observed in the nuclei studied can be explained if the neutron-holes are coupled to the doubly even core excitations. The coupling of theh _11/2 neutron-hole with the 2⁺, 4⁺ and 3^? collective excitations are calculated in terms of the weak and intermediate coupling models. The intermediate coupling results seem to be in better agreement with the experimental data. The energies of theree-particle states, being the result of the coupling of theh _11/2 neutron-hole with the two-proton excitations in the core, are well reproduced in the calculations when empirical values of the two-body interaction matrix elements were used.     

The sub-barrier fusion of40Ar with144,148,154Sm

The cross sections for production of evaporation residues (σ _er) and for fusion-fission (σ _ff) have been measured for⁴⁰Ar+^{144, 148, 154}Sm at sub-barrier energies by observation of x-ray emission from radioactive products and by direct,ΔE?E identification of fission fragments, respectively. These isotopes span the transition region from spherical (¹⁴⁴Sm) to strongly deformed (¹⁵⁴Sm) equilibrium shapes. The cross section for fusion,σ _fus=σ _er+σ _ff, is found to vary markedly at low energies with the isotope number and, hence, with the quadrupole collectivity of the target. The thresholds for fusion of¹⁴⁸Sm and¹⁴⁴Sm are, respectively, ～3.5 MeV and ～7 MeV (c.m.) higher than for fusion with¹⁵⁴Sm. These differences and the energy dependence of the fusion cross sections are discussed in terms of the effect of nuclear deformation on heavy-ion fusion. A comparative analysis of results for¹⁶O+Sm and⁴⁰Ar+Sm in terms of static deformation indicates thatσ _fus for the Ar+Sm system at very low energies is enhanced relative to the prediction for a one-dimensional barrier based on a fit toσ _fus for¹⁶O+Sm. This may be an indication that additional degrees of freedom (such as formation of a neck or fragment elongation) may be important for fusion with the larger projectile. At energies above the fusion barrier, values ofσ _fus for^{144, 148}Sm are nearly equal, but are significantly smaller than for¹⁵⁴Sm. This is in contrast to the results of previous experiments with¹⁶O projectiles in whichσ _fus (¹⁶O+¹⁴⁸Sm) andσ _fus (¹⁶O+¹⁵⁴Sm) were nearly equal above the barrier. These differences, observed for^{144, 148}Sm and¹⁵⁴Sm at energies above the barrier may reflect a new mechanism which is not encompassed by a static theory.     

Measurements ofE4 matrix elements in152Sm and154Sm

TheE4 transition matrix element from the ground state to the 4⁺ state has been measured in¹⁵²Sm and¹⁵⁴Sm, by comparing relative thick targetγ-ray intensities following Coulomb excitation with 12 MeV⁴He, 24–30 MeV¹⁶O, and 35–40 MeV³²S projectiles. Values for 〈0⁺∥?(E4)∥4⁺〉 of (+0.31 _?0.20 ^+0.12 ) barn in¹⁵²Sm and (+0.50 _?0.12 ^+0.09 ) barn in¹⁵⁴Sm are found.     

Seniority-three yrast states in theN=82 nucleus147Tb

Firm spin-parity assignments for the high-spin states up to 3.5 MeV in the one-proton nucleus¹⁴⁷Tb were obtained from¹⁴⁴Sm(⁶Li, 3n) in-beamγ-ray and conversion electron measurements. The energies of these two-particle one-hole excitations were calculated from the shell model with empirical nucleon-nucleon interaction energies. The calculated energy splittings agree well with experiment, whereas the theoretical excitation energies disagree by ?1 MeV if recently measured ground state masses are used.     

States inN=80140Nd populated in the decay of140Pm

The level structure of theN=80,¹⁴⁰Nd has been investigated through the beta decay of^140m Pm and^140g Pm, whose decay half-lives were measured to be 5.95±0.05 min and 9.1±0.5 sec, respectively. Decay schemes for the two isomers have been constructed fromγ-ray measurements. With the help of the beta decayft values and internal conversion electron measurements, spins and parities were deduced for levels in¹⁴⁰Nd. Among the levels a 7^? state at 2222.0 keV and a 5^? state at 2273.3 keV are identified as two-neutron quasiparticle states. The (ie233-01) for^140m Pm and^140g Pm have been deduced as 7^? and 1⁺, respectively. From beta end-point measurements, the decay energies of the two isomers have been determined asQ _EC=6.48±0.07 MeV^140m (Pm) andQ _EC=6.08±0.10 MeV (^140gPm). The results are discussed in the light of nuclear systematics of theN=79 and 80 isotones.     

10+ isomers observed in even-even 78-neutron nuclei

Isomeric states with spinI ^π=10⁺ were found in the nuclei¹³⁸Nd and¹⁴⁰Sm. These states are interpreted as having a [vh _11/2]^?2 configuration. The systematical behaviour of these isomers in the isotones¹³⁶Ce,¹³⁸Nd and¹⁴⁰Sm is discussed.     

Nuclear spectroscopy of neutron-richA=143 nuclei

A study of the beta decay of¹⁴³Cs and¹⁴³Ba fission products was undertaken by the use of two on-line mass-separators OSTIS and OSIRIS. Level schemes for¹⁴³Ba and¹⁴³La are deduced from gamma and conversion electron spectra,γ-γ andβ-γ coincidences.Q _β values and ground state beta feedings were also measured. The nuclei¹⁴³La and¹⁴³Ba are tentatively inserted in a systematic of odd-even nuclei aroundA=143 and even-odd nuclei with 87 neutrons respectively.     

Excited states in neutron deficient even-even thorium isotopes (218≦A≦222)

The nuclei^{218, 220, 222}Th were investigated by conversion electron andγ-ray spectroscopy after compound nucleus reactions of¹⁴N with²⁰⁹Bi and^{16, 18}O with²⁰⁸Pb. The intenseγ-background from fission was suppressed by spectroscopy of conversion electrons andγ-rays in coincidence with the evaporation residues or theirα-decay. Level schemes were determined for²¹⁸Th up toI ^π=10⁺ and for²²⁰Th and²²²Th up toI ^π=15^?. The observed structure of²¹⁸Th may be explained in the spherical shell model with residual interaction by two neutron excitation. ForN≧130 completely different level schemes are observed showing very intense, collective electric dipole transitions (B(E1)?10^?2 W.u.) with energies of typically 200 keV. Interpretation in terms of stable octupole deformations of the ground state as well as in anα-cluster picture are discussed.     

High spin isomer in151Sm

An investigation of the high spin isomer in¹⁵¹Sm was performed via the¹⁵⁰Nd(α, 3nγ) reaction at a projectile energy of 35 MeV. A newγ-transition, 693.6 keV was identified having an exponential delayed component. The transition feeds the 1912 keV state of the negative parity band built on theh _11/2 state. This transition was also observed in coincidence withγ-rays belonging to¹⁵¹Sm in theγ-γ coincidence experiment atE _α =37 MeV. A new isomeric state having energyE _x =2605.8 keV and half lifeT _1/2=23.1±3.5 ns is proposed.     

Radiative capture of deuterons in Ba and Au

¹³⁸Ba(d,γ)¹⁴⁰La and¹⁹⁷Au(d,γ)^199mHg cross sections were measured for deuteron energies ranging from 5 to 26 MeV. A survey of existing experimental (p,γ), (d,γ) and (α,γ) cross sections is given. A comparison of all the experimental data with calculated compound nucleus cross sections is performed. An increase in the ratio of experimental cross sections and calculated compound nuclear cross sections with increasing mass numberA is observed for all capture processes.     

Elastic and inelastic scattering of polarized protons from even n=82 nuclei near isobaric analog resonances

Excitation curves for the elastic and the inelastic scattering of polarized protons on the target nuclei ¹³⁸Ba, ¹⁴⁰Ce, ¹⁴²Nd and ¹⁴⁴Sm have been measured in the energy region of prominent isobaric analog resonances. A detailed analysis of the data is presented. Definite J^π assignments are given for a number of parent analog states. Spectroscopic factors and amplitudes for configurations with the core in the ground state or in the 2₁⁺ excited state are derived from the elastic and inelastic proton decay amplitudes. They show consistency with sum rules including orthogonality conditions. Different methods for the-calculation of single particle decay widths have been applied. The qualitative agreement with present unified model calculations is remarkable; an overestimattion of the weak coupling structure, however, becomes apparent.     

Lifetime measurements and particle-core coupling calculations in144Sm

Applying the generalized centroid shift method in the¹⁴²Nd(α, 2n)¹⁴⁴Sm reaction the following half-lives have been measured:T _1/2(3,376 keV)=(1.6±0.2) ns,T _1/2(3,460 keV) =(0.5±0.2) ns andT _1/2(5,150 keV)≦0.3 ns. Level energies and electromagnetic transition rates have been calculated within a particle-core coupling approach that is based on the shell model with configuration mixing. The persistence ofl-forbiddenness of M1 transitions between rather complex configurations could be confirmed.     

Level structure of106Mo

The level scheme of the very neutron rich nucleus ₁₀₆ ⁴² Mo₆₄ has been studied for the first time through theβ decay of¹⁰⁶Nb. Six new excited states were observed inγ singles andγ-γ coincidence experiments in addition to the 2⁺, 4⁺ and 6⁺ members of the ground state band. The excitation energies and the deexcitation pattern suggest the interpretation of the levels at 710, 885 and 956 keV as the 2 ₂ ⁺ , 3 ₁ ⁺ and 0 ₂ ⁺ states, respectively. The data support the assumption of a non-axial deformation of¹⁰⁶Mo. A half-life of (1.02±0.05) s has been determined for theβ decay of¹⁰⁶Nb.     

Zur Gamma- und Röntgenstrahlung von Holmium-164

The photon spectrum in the decay of¹⁶⁴Ho was investigated using a high resolution solid state detector separating theK-X-rays of Dy, Ho and Er. The two γ-rays depopulating the 3⁺ and 2⁺ levels in¹⁶⁴Ho were found to have energies of 56.6 and 37.3 keV. The 91.4 keV radiation of Er from our sample seems to have a non resolved high energy component with about 2.5% intensity. It may be due to the cross-over transition 3⁺→1⁺ or a sum line. The half-life of the isomeric state of¹⁶⁴Ho was found to be 36.7 ± 1 min. The total transition rates between different levels were calculated from the measured photon intensities. The fraction 0.27 found in the branching of thee ^?-capture feeding the 2⁺-state of Dy has nearly the same value as the analog branching in the β^?-decay. Combining the measured complex ground state decay curve and the transition intensities of the isomeric and of the ground state the ground state half-live can be deduced and was found to be (28.1 ± 1.0) min. The corresponding ratio of the ground state and the isomeric state production rates is 2.8₄:1. A ratio of 0.04 was found for the cross section of¹⁶⁵Ho (γ, 3n),¹⁶²Ho and¹⁶⁵Ho (γ,n)¹⁶⁴Ho for a 90 MeV bremsspectrum.