Pseudo-spin band in the odd-odd nucleus 172Lu

High-spin states in the odd-odd nucleus ¹⁷²Lu have been populated in a ¹⁷⁰Er(⁷Li, 5n) reaction and the emitted -radiation was detected with the GASP array. Two sequences of a new identical band have been observed with the transition energies in the favoured and unfavoured sequences being identical within keV at low spins and keV at high spins over the whole observed spin range. Aninterpretation as a pseudo-spin singlet band of configuration is proposed. It represents the best example of a pseudo-spin singlet band in normal deformed nuclei known until now.Received: 19 February 2003, Revised: 27 March 2003, Published online: 12 August 2003PACS: 21.10.-k Properties of nuclei; nuclear energy levels - 21.10.Re Collective levels - 23.20.Lv transitions and level energies - 27.70.+q      

Observation of bound excited states in 15B

The structure of the A/Z = 3 nucleus ¹⁵B has been investigated using the in-beam -spectroscopy technique with a fragmentation reaction of a ³⁶S beam on a ⁹Be target at 77.5 . The fragments were identified and selected by their energy loss and time of flight using the SPEG spectrograph. -ray energies and intensities have been measured in coincidence with the projectile-like fragments. From this information as well as from the -coincidence relationships a level scheme is proposed for ¹⁵B up to the neutron separation energy. The experimental results have been interpreted using shell model calculations in the psd valence space. Effects of the weakly bound nature of the valence neutrons have been observed.Received: 4 May 2004, Revised: 2 September 2004, Published online: 19 October 2004PACS: 25.70.Mn Projectile and target fragmentation - 23.20.Lv transitions and level energies - 27.20. + n - 21.60.Cs Shell model     

Two-quasiparticle and collective excitations in transitional 108,110 Pd nuclei

High-spin states in ^108,110Pd isotopes are studied by -ray spectroscopy of heavy-ion-induced fission. The Pd isotopes are produced in the fission channel of the ³¹P + ¹⁷⁶Yb reaction at beam energy 152 MeV. The prompt -rays are detected with the EUROBALL4 multidetector array. The yrast states of ^108,110Pd have been observed above the region of the first backbend. The level scheme of ¹⁰⁸Pd was extended with a new negative-parity band. The yrast sequence in ¹¹⁰Pd is observed up to spin I = 14 ⁺ and negative-parity bands have also been identified. The backbending in these even-mass Pd isotopes is associated with the alignment of the neutron (h _11/2)² pair. The negative-parity states arise from two neutron configurations and and they are interpreted in the frame of two-quasiparticle + rotor model as semidecoupled bands. The observed experimental staggering in the -bands of ^108,110Pd supports the theoretical predictions for -instability of their shapes.Received: 22 April 2003, Revised: 27 June 2003, Published online: 2 December 2003PACS: 21.60.-n Nuclear structure models and methods - 23.20.Lv transitions and level energies - 25.70.Jj Fusion and fusion-fission reactions - 27.60. + j      

Multiplicity correlations of intermediate-mass fragments with pions and fast protons in <Superscript>12</Superscript>C + <Superscript>197</Superscript>Au

Low-energy ( MeV) from ¹² C + ¹⁹⁷ Au collisions at incident energies from 300 to 1800 MeV per nucleon were detected with the Si-Si(Li)-CsI(Tl) calibration telescopes of the INDRA multidetector. The inclusive angular distributions are approximately isotropic, consistent with multiple rescattering in the target spectator. The multiplicity correlations of the low-energy pions and of energetic protons ( MeV) with intermediate-mass fragments were determined from the measured coincidence data. The deduced correlation functions for inclusive event samples reflect the strong correlations evident from the common impact parameter dependence of the considered multiplicities. For narrow impact parameter bins (based on charged-particle multiplicity), the correlation functions are close to unity and do not indicate strong additional correlations. Only for pions at high particle multiplicities (central collisions) a weak anticorrelation is observed, probably due to a limited competition between these emissions. Overall, the results are consistent with the equilibrium assumption made in statistical multifragmentation scenarios. Predictions obtained with intranuclear-cascade models coupled to the Statistical Multifragmentation Model are in good agreement with the experimental data.Received: 9 December 2003, Revised: 18 February 2004, Published online: 31 August 2004PACS: 25.70.Mn Projectile and target fragmentation - 25.70.Pq Multifragment emission and correlations - 25.75.Dw Particle and resonance production - 25.75.Gz Particle correlations     

Absolute resonance strengths in the $^{6,7}Li(\alpha, \gamma)^{10,11}B$ reactions

The absolute strengths of the keV resonance in the reaction and of the keV resonance in the reaction have been measured to meV and meV, respectively, in good agreement with previous values. These resonances can be used to measure the absolute acceptance of the recoil separator ERNA to a precision of about 10%.Received: 12 December 2003, Revised: 10 February 2004, Published online: 3 August 2004PACS: 24.30.-v Resonance reactions - 25.40.Lw Radiative capture - 26.20. + f Hydrostatic stellar nucleosynthesis     

Level structure of 146Tb

The level structure of the doubly odd nucleus ¹⁴⁶Tb has been studied via the ¹¹⁸Sn(³²S, 1p3n) reaction using techniques of in-beam -ray spectroscopy. Measurements of -ray anisotropies, X- and - -t coincidences were performed with 12 BGO(AC)HPGe detectors. Based on the measured results, the level scheme of ¹⁴⁶Tb has been revised significantly and extended up to an excitation energy of 8.39 MeV. The level structure has been interpreted qualitatively by coupling an h _11/2 proton-particle and an h _11/2 neutron-hole to the excited states in the ¹⁴⁶Gd core.Received: 3 July 2003, Published online: 26 November 2003PACS: 23.20.Lv transitions and level energies - 27.60. + j      

Delayed crossing in the \pi h_{9/2} 1/2-[541] band of 173 Lu

High-spin states in the odd-proton nucleus ¹⁷³Lu have been populated in a ¹⁷⁰Er(⁷Li,4n) reaction and the emitted -radiation was detected with the GASP array. The favoured and unfavoured sequences of the band have been considerably extended. The favoured sequence does not show any indication of a band crossing up to a rotational frequency of 0.45 MeV. This is the largest crossing frequency ever observed for 1/2^- [541] bands of odd-proton nuclei with and . Previous Cranked Shell Model (CSM) calculations underestimate the crossing frequency by 100 keV.Received: 19 May 2003, Published online: 11 November 2003PACS: 21.10.-k Properties of nuclei; nuclear energy levels - 21.10.Re Collective levels - 23.20.Lv transitions and level energies - 27.70. + q      

Some physics highlights from the EUROBALL spectrometer

Exotic, neutron-rich proton-induced spallation products of ²³²Th and ²³⁸U obtained from the PS Booster ISOLDE facility have been investigated by - , - coincidence and spectrum-multiscaling measurements. A new method for the reduction of isobaric contamination enabled to study the unknown region beyond ²⁰⁸Pb for the decay chain A = 217. A new isotope ²¹⁷Bi with a half-life of s was discovered and its -decay studied. For the first time, a half-life value of s for the -decay of ²¹⁷Po was measured.Received: 3 March 2003, Revised: 13 May 2003, Published online: 30 September 2003PACS: 23.20.Lv transitions and level energies - 23.60.+e decay - 27.80.+w 190 A 219 - 29.30.Kv X- and -ray spectroscopyV. Fedoseyev: Present address: ISOLDE, CERN-PPE, CH-1211, Geneva 23, Switzerland.M. Górska: Present address: GSI, Darmstadt, D-64220, Germany.M. Huhta: Present address: Nokia, Tampere, Finland.     

Introduction to BRAG: The Baryon Resonance Analysis Group

High-spin states in ^160,161,162Ho have been populated in the reactions ^158,160Gd(⁷Li, xn) at 56 MeV. In all three isotopes the known rotational bands have been extended to significantly higher spin. In ¹⁶⁰ Ho, the band crossing in the 7/2^-[523] 11/2^-[505] band has been observed for the first time. The sequences built on the proton 7/2^-[523], 7/2 ⁺ [404], 1/2 ⁺ [411] and 1/2^-[541] states in ¹⁶¹Ho have been extended up to spin 51/2^-, 35/2 ⁺ , 51/2 ⁺ and 41/2^-, respectively, leading to the first observation of upbends in all four cases. In addition, a new band most probably belonging to this nucleus has been identified. In the most neutron-rich isotope ¹⁶²Ho, the only known rotational band, which is built on the 7/2^-[523] 5/2 ⁺ [642] configuration, has been extended up to the 28^- state. The properties of all observed bands are discussed and compared to the neighbouring isotopes.Received: 4 November 2003, Published online: 23 July 2004PACS: 23.20.Lv transitions and level energies - 27.70. + q - 21.10.Re Collective levels     

Decay properties of isomeric states in radium isotopes close to N = 126

Isomeric states in ^210-215Ra have been populated by the decay of the compound nuclei ^216,220Ra produced in irradiations of ^204,208Pb with ¹²C at MeV. Published values for -ray energies and half-lives were confirmed for Ra. Our data for Ra agree with the -energies and the half-life measured at the RITU separator, University of Jyväskylä (Finland). Its decay pattern is complex. Two series of -rays of keV and keV were observed. A half-life of s was measured. The isomeric state is attributed to an 8 ⁺ state at E ^* = 2053.8keV. A previously unknown isomeric state was assigned to Ra. It has a half-life of ( ) and it decays by emission of -rays with energies of 396.1keV and 802.0keV. It is attributed to a 13/2 ⁺ state at E ^* = 1198.1 keV.PACS: 23.60. + e decay - 27.90. + b      

Second experiment at VASSILISSA separator on the synthesis of the element 112

The upgraded separator VASSILISSA was used to confirm results of previous experiments on the synthesis of the heavy isotopes of the element 112 obtained in complete-fusion reactions of ⁴⁸Ca and ²³⁸U. An additional reason was the non-observation of any events in the same reaction studied with the BGS separator at Berkeley. Limits of for the atomic mass number of the observed spontaneously fissioning isotope were measured. The obtained results on the decay mode, half-life and production cross-section are in agreement with those obtained in our first experiment.Received: 10 June 2003, Revised: 29 July 2003, Published online: 2 December 2003PACS: 23.60. + e decay - 25.70.-z Low and intermediate energy heavy-ion reactions - 25.85.Ca Spontaneous fission - 27.90. + b      

First structure information on the exotic 149 La from the $\beta^-$-decay of 149 Ba

The -decay of ¹⁴⁹Ba to ¹⁴⁹La has been investigated by means of - and X-ray spectroscopy, and a partial level scheme of ¹⁴⁹La has been constructed for the first time. It includes thirteen -rays and ten excited states. The exotic ¹⁴⁹La is the heaviest lanthanum for which spectroscopic information is now available. We have applied the shell correction approach with the axially deformed Woods-Saxon potential in order to calculate the deformation energy for the ¹⁴⁹La ground state. The deformed ground state was found at 0.23, 0 and 0.12.Received: 18 July 2003, Revised: 12 January 2004, Published online: 26 May 2004PACS: 27.60. + j - 29.30.Kv X- and -ray spectroscopy     

\alpha-decay spectroscopy of light odd-odd Bi isotopes - II: 186Bi and the new nuclide 184Bi

Alpha-decay of the new nuclide ¹⁸⁴Bi has been studied in the complete-fusion reaction ⁹³Nb(⁹⁴Mo, 3n)¹⁸⁴Bi at the velocity filter SHIP. The evaporation residues were separated in-flight and subsequently identified on the basis of recoil- , recoil- - analysis and excitation functions measurements. Two -decaying isomeric states in ¹⁸⁴Bi with half-life values of 13(2) ms and 6.6(1.5) ms were identified. The -branching ratio of ¹⁸⁰Tl was deduced for the first time as . Improved data on the fine-structure -decay of ¹⁸⁶Bi were obtained in the ⁹³Nb(⁹⁵Mo, 2n)¹⁸⁶Bi reaction. A similarity of the decay energies and half-life values of ^184,186Bi is pointed out and a possible explanation for this effect is suggested.Received: 14 March 2003, Revised: 29 April 2003, Published online: 2 September 2003PACS: 23.60.+e decay - 27.70.+q - 27.80.+w K. Heyde: Present address: EP-ISOLDE, CERN, CH-1211, Geneva 23, Switzerland.     

Beta decay of 50Ni

The very neutron-deficient isotope ⁵⁰Ni was produced in fragmentation reactions between a A MeV ⁵⁸Ni beam and a ⁹Be target. For the first time the decay of this nucleus was investigated, leading to the determination of the half-life as 12⁺³_-2 ms and the branching ratio for -delayed proton emission of ( )%.Received: 16 April 2003, Published online: 22 July 2003PACS: 21.10.Tg Properties of nuclei; nuclear energy levels: Lifetimes - 23.40.-s decay; double decay; electron and muon capture - 29.30.Ep Charged-particle spectroscopyR. Grzywacz: Present address : Physics Division, ORNL, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6371, USA.I. Mukha: Present address : Instituut voor Kern- en Stralingsfysika, University of Leuven, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium.     

Gamma-ray spectroscopy studies at GANIL: Status and perspectives

The SPIRAL facility started to deliver radioactive beams in September 2001 and some experiments have been performed in particular using the EXOGAM array. These experiments will be briefly described and the first outputs will be shown. The in-beam performances of EXOGAM will also be discussed.Received: 29 January 2003, Published online: 9 March 2004PACS: 29.30.Kv X- and -ray spectroscopy - 23.20.Lv transitions and level energies - 25.60.Pj Fusion reactions - 25.70.De Coulomb excitation     

Reinvestigation of the beta-decay of 110Mo

The beta-decay of the neutron-rich nucleus ¹¹⁰Mo, separated by the IGISOL on-line mass separator from other fission products, has been investigated by using beta-gamma and gamma-gamma coincidence techniques. The decay scheme of ¹¹⁰Mo has been revised, including 3 new excited states and 7 new transitions in ¹¹⁰Tc. The -feedings were measured and values and B(GT) values were deduced based on a -value from systematics. Three excited 1 ⁺ states in ¹¹⁰Tc fed by spin-flip allowed-unhindered beta transitions were identified. The deduced beta-decay strengths are compared with the Gamow-Teller strength distribution obtained from a macroscopic-microscopic calculation. The role of the asymptotic quantum numbers in the context of the allowed beta-decay is discussed.Received: 5 May 2003, Revised: 13 June 2003, Published online: 26 November 2003PACS: 27.60. + j - 21.10.Tg Lifetimes - 23.20.Lv Gamma transitions and level energiesJ.C. Wang: Present address: Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 S. Cass Ave., Room F-133, Bldg 203, Argonne, IL 60439, USA;     

Remeasurement of the half-life of the 615 keV level in <Superscript>181</Superscript>Ta

The lifetimes of the 615 and 619 keV levels in ¹⁸¹Ta have been remeasured by using a - delayed coincidence set up with fast plastic (Pilot U) and BaF₂ detectors. The presently measured values for both levels have been found to be in strong disagreement with results reported earlier. For the 615 keV level, the half-life has been found to be ns in striking contrast to the earlier reported value of 17.6 s. The half-life of the 619 keV level has been found to be ps, whereas values of 0.87 ns and 2.4 ns were reported previously. The nanosecond half-life of the 615 keV level has been confirmed from a separate measurement by employing a NaI(Tl)-Pilot U detector combination. The importance of lifetime measurements for the 615 keV level in perturbed angular correlation studies is discussed.Received: 17 December 2003, Revised: 19 April 2004, Published online: 19 October 2004PACS: 23.20.-g Electromagnetic transitions - 21.10.Tg Lifetimes     

The N = Z nucleus 76 Sr: Gamow-Teller strength and nuclear deformation

Challenged by recent theoretical work, a study of the -EC decay of the N = Z even-even nucleus ⁷⁶ Sr has been undertaken in order to assign the parent ground-state deformation. In this study 13 levels with have been located in ⁷⁶ Rb. The beta-delayed proton emission has been observed for the first time in an N = Z even-even nucleus. The p branching ratio has been determined to be . The ⁷⁶ Sr half-life has been remeasured and a more precise value of s has been obtained. On the basis of the comparison of measured Gamow-Teller strength with calculated strength distributions for both oblate and prolate deformation, it is concluded that the ⁷⁶ Sr has strong prolate deformation in the ground state.Received: 26 June 2003, Revised: 5 November 2003, Published online: 18 June 2004PACS: 21.10.Hw Spin, parity, and isobaric spin - 23.20.Lv transitions and level energies - 23.40.Hc Relation with nuclear matrix elements and nuclear structure - 27.50. + e J. Giovinazzo: Present address: Centre d Etudes Nucléaires de Bordeaux-Gradignan, Le Haut Vigneau, F-33175 Gradignan Cedex, France.M. Ramdhane: Present address: University Mentouri, 25000 Constantine, Algeria.     

Inclusive $\omega$ photoproduction off nuclei

We investigate inclusive photoproduction off complex nuclei, concentrating on the feasibility to examine a possible in-medium change of the properties by observing the invariant-mass spectrum. The simulations are performed by means of a BUU transport model including a full coupled-channel treatment of the final-state interactions. In-medium changes of the spectral density are found to yield a moderate modification of the observables as compared to the situa tion in free space. Also the effects of a momentum dependence of the strong potential are discussed.Received: 28 October 2003, Revised: 26 November 2003, Published online: 8 June 2004PACS: 25.20.-x Photonuclear reactions - 13.60.-r Photon and charged-lepton interactions with hadrons - 13.60.Le Meson production - 14.40.-n Mesons     

Evidence for an isomer in 76 Ni

In the experiment performed at the LISE2000 spectrometer at GANIL neutron-rich nickel isotopes were studied by microsecond isomer spectroscopy. Evidence for an isomer in ⁷⁶Ni is found, consistently with the shell model prediction of an 8 ⁺ state of structure.Received: 24 October 2002, Published online: 17 February 2004PACS: 23.20.Lv transitions and level energies - 27.50. + e