Lifetimes and side-feeding population of the yrast band levels in 131La

Lifetimes of yrast levels with spins I^π = 23/2^--43/2^- in ¹³¹La populated in the ¹²²Sn(¹⁴N, 5n) reaction at a beam energy of 70MeV are measured by the Doppler Shift Attenuation method. A model of side-feeding population is presented. The model parameters are determined in an experiment based on the lineshape of γ-transitions from two highest spin levels and from the intensity distribution along the yrast band. The properties of the h_11/2 band in ¹³¹La are compared with the theoretical predictions obtained in the framework of the Core-Quasi-Particle Coupling and the self-consistent Total Routhian Surface models.     

Investigation of lifetimes in the dipole band of 139Sm

Lifetimes have been measured for a dipole band in ¹³⁹Sm using DSAM. The deduced B(M1) and B(E2) values as well as B(M1)/B(E2) ratios are compared with calculations in the framework of the TAC (Tilted Axis Cranking) and SPAC (Shears mechanism with Principal Axis Cranking) models. The dipole band in ¹³⁹Sm can be considered as a magnetic rotational band with a prolate or triaxial nuclear deformation.     

Quadrupole moment measurement of the highly deformed πg 9/2⊗νh 11/2 band in 130Pr

The quadrupole moment for the πg _9/2⊗νh _11/2 band in the ^130>Pr nucleus has been measured using the Doppler-shift attenuation method. A centroid shift analysis was carried out and a value of Q₀=6.1±0.4 eb, corresponding to an axial prolate deformation of β₂=0.35(3), has been determined. This is the first direct experimental confirmation of the deformation-driving character of the πg _9/2 orbital in an odd-odd nucleus in the A≃135 superdeformed region. Received: 23 April 1998     

Shape coexistence near the double-midshell nucleus 111Rh

The decay of ¹¹¹Ru obtained from fast on-line chemical and mass separation has been investigated by β-γ-t and γ-γ coincidence techniques. Earlier spin and parity assignments of ¹¹¹Rh levels based on extrapolations of level systematics are confirmed. In particular, the K=1/2 intruder band is supported by the hindrance of E2 transitions between deformed and spherical states and enhancement of intraband E2 transitions. The excitation energies of intruder band members in Rh isotopes show a minimum at ¹⁰⁹Rh₆₄, with two neutrons less than ¹¹¹Rh at the N=66 midshell. This trend, which differs from the one in the higher-Z neighbouring elements Ag and Cd with minima at N=66, follows the evolution of deformation observed in the lower-Z elements Ru and Mo. Received: 25 June 1997 / Revised version: 10 September 1997     

Measurement of the lifetime of the first 2+ state in 124Ba

The lifetime of the first 2⁺ state in the nucleus ¹²⁴Ba has been measured by γ-γ coincidence recoil-distance Doppler shift method. The ¹⁰⁹Ag(¹⁹F, 4n)¹²⁴Ba reaction at a beam energy of 75 MeV was employed to populate excited states in ¹²⁴Ba. The mean lifetime was determined to be 275(12) ps using the differential decay curve method. The value of B(E2;0₁ ⁺→ 2₁ ⁺) for ¹²⁴Ba deduced from the lifetime is in reasonable agreement with the prediction of the proton-neutron interacting boson model(IBM-2) without Pauli blocking effect. Received: 23 February 1998     

Configuration assignments and decay of 126La high-spin bands

High spin states of ¹²⁶La have been populated using the reaction ¹¹⁶Sn+¹⁴N at 68 MeV. γ-rays and conversion electrons were detected with the GAREL array. Multipolarities of the lowest-lying in-band dipole transitions have been determined from the deduced internal conversion coefficients. Experimental B(M1)/B(E2) ratios have been derived for the bands and compared with calculated values using the D?nau-Frauendorf geometrical model. Configurations are proposed for the bands comparing them with cranked shell model calculations and on the basis of the measured B(M1)/B(E2) ratios. The β-decay of ¹²⁶La has also been revisited. The population of the ¹²⁶Ba levels gives a probable spin value of five for the decaying high-spin ¹²⁶La state with T _1/2≈ 64 s which may indicate a signature inversion in the πh_11/2νh_11/2 band. Received: 12 October 1999     

Superdeformation in144Eu

A ridge has been found in a - coincidence matrix obtained from the reaction¹²²Sn(²⁷Al,5n)¹⁴⁴Euat 142 MeV.The half-width of the valley is 59 keV,which is similar to the energy spacings in the superdeformed bands in ¹⁴³Euand ¹⁴²Sm.This indicates the existence of superdeformed bands in ¹⁴⁴Eu.This work was supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and AECL Research. We thank the crew and staff at TASCC for supplying the beams, and Dr.R.A.Wyss for use of the CSM and TRS codes.     

Lifetimes in the ground-state band and the structure of 118Te

Lifetimes of excited states in ¹¹⁸Te have been measured using the Doppler Shift Attenuation (DSA) and Recoil Distance (RD) methods in the ¹⁰⁹Ag(¹³C, p3n) reaction at a beam energy of 54 MeV. Lifetime values of the ground-state band levels with spins I ^π = 2⁺-16⁺ have been obtained. The excitation energies and B(E2) values are interpreted in the framework of a version of IBFM ( IBM + 2qp) with the maximum boson number exceeding its standard value. A satisfactory agreement with experimental level scheme and B(E2) values for the ground-state band is achieved. Received: 7 June 2001 / Accepted: 7 February 2002     

Rotational bands in the near-drip-line nucleus 128Nd

The even-even nucleus ¹²⁸Nd was studied via in-beam γ-ray spectroscopy using the ⁴⁰Ca + ⁸²Mo reaction at 190 MeV. Two new bands were observed besides the yrast one, that has been extended up to spin 34⁺. Configurations were assigned to the three bands by analysing their rotational properties and by comparison with the neighboring even-even nuclei. Received: 18 July 2001 / Accepted: 25 October 2001     

High-spin states in the deformed 122Ba nucleus

The even-even nucleus ¹²²Ba was studied via in-beam γ-ray spectroscopy using the ⁴⁰Ca + ⁹²Mo reaction at 190 MeV. Five bands were observed, four more that can be found in the literature. Configurations were assigned to the various bands from the comparison with the neighboring even-even nuclei. Received: 10 July 2001 / Accepted: 10 October 2001     

Nuclear spectroscopy near the proton drip line in the lanthanide region: The122La nucleus

Excited states in the very neutron-deficient¹²²La nucleus have been established for the first time using the⁹²Mo(⁴⁰Ca, 2α1p1n) reaction at beam energies of 190 and 200MeV. The observed transitions were grouped in three bands. Configurations have been assigned to the observed bands based on the properties extracted from the experimental data and on cranked shell model calculations.     

A new high-spin isomer in 145Sm

A new high-spin isomer in ¹⁴⁵Sm was observed by in-beam γ-ray spectroscopy with the reaction ¹²²Sn(²⁷Al,3np) at 127 MeV performed at the Nordball multi-detector array in Roskilde. The excitation energy of the isomer was determined to be E _x= 11147 keV, and using the generalized centroid-shift method its half-life was found to be T _1/2= (7.4 ± 1.0) ns. Received: 23 October 1998     

High spin structure of 117I

High-spin states in ¹¹⁷I have been studied via the ¹⁰³Rh(¹⁸O, 4n) reaction at a beam energy of 85 MeV. Many deformed rotational bands built on the proton h_11/2, g_7/2, and g_9/2 orbitals have been identified. Among them, an unfavoured rotational band and a quasi-gamma band based on the h_11/2 state have been newly observed. Moreover, positive-parity states above I^π= 35/2⁺ reported in the previous work have been rearranged. Several energetically favoured states have been assigned to noncollective oblate states based on various quasiparticle configurations with β₂≈ 0.18–0.19 and γ= 60°. Received: 1 March 1999     

High spin states in 128Ba

High spin states in ¹²⁸Ba have been investigated with the fusion–evaporation reaction ⁹⁶Zr(³⁶S,4n)¹²⁸Ba at a beam energy of 150 MeV with the GASP-spectrometer at INFN in Legnaro, Italy. The level scheme could be extended to higher spins and six-quasiparticle states have been observed. The deduced alignments are compared to the predictions of previously reported cranked shell model calculations. Received: 4 January 1999     

Systematics of related high-spin isomers in 144Sm and other N = 82 nuclei

An in-beam experiment with the reaction ¹²²Sn(²⁷Al,4np) at 127 MeV was performed at the Nordball multi-detector array in Roskilde. It provided evidence for a new high-spin isomer in ¹⁴⁴Sm. This isomer with T _1/2= (2.6 ± 0.5) ns at an excitation energy E _x= 9232 keV seems to belong to a family of isomers of similar configuration in neighbouring N= 82 nuclei. Received: 16 November 1997     

Yrare bands of 121Xe

High-spin states in ¹²¹Xe have been studied via the ¹⁰⁹Ag (16O, p3n) ¹²¹Xe reaction at a beam energy of 80 MeV. Several rotational bands based on one- and three-quasiparticle excitations have been established. Among them, an unfavoured yrare rotational band with unfavoured signature has been newly identified. Received: 19 November 1998     

Level structure of 123Cs observed from 123Ba decay and described using the IBFM and CQPC models

The decay of ¹²³Ba to ¹²³Cs has been studied with mass-separated sources. Singles spectra of γ-rays, X-rays and conversion electrons as well as γ - γ - t, γ - e ⁻ - t, and X - e ⁻ - t coincidences were recorded. A level scheme of ¹²³Cs has been constructed including 26 new excited states and 82 transitions. The existence of a I ^π = 11/2⁻, T _1/2 = 1.7 s isomer, bandhead of the h _11/2 band, is confirmed. Its excitation energy equals 156.3 keV. A new T _1/2 = 114 ns isomer has been established at 232 keV using the in-beam recoil catcher technique. It is assigned to the I ^π = 9/2⁺ bandhead of the gpg _9/2 band. Collective bands based on the 1/2⁺ ground state and first 3/2⁺ excited state are proposed. The level structure is described in the frame of the interacting boson-fermion and core-quasiparticle coupling models.     

Experimental beta-decay energies of very neutron-rich isobars with mass numbers A=101 and A=102

TheQ -values of¹⁰¹Rb,^101,102Sr and^101,102Y have been measured for the first time at the mass separator ISOLDE by means of-coincidence techniques with a plastic scintillation detector telescope and a large Ge(HP)-detector. For some of these nuclei, also new details of their decay schemes could be derived from the measured-decay properties. The experimental results are discussed, as far as the systematics of two-neutron separation energies derived from them is concerned. In addition, the nuclear masses deduced from theseQ -values are compared with the predictions of recent mass calculations.Dedicated to Prof. Dr. Peter Armbruster on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

Spectroscopy of the deformed 126Ce nucleus

The even-even nucleus ¹²⁶Ce was studied via in-beam γ-ray spectroscopy using the ⁴⁰Ca + ⁹²Mo reaction at 190 MeV. Five bands were observed, one of them being identified for the first time. New connecting transitions were identified between the bands, which lead to new spin assignments. The bands are discussed in the framework of the IBM + broken pairs model. Received: 17 July 2002 / Accepted: 23 October 2002 / Published online: 18 February 2003 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: costel.petrache@unicam.it Communicated by C. Signorini