Backbending behaviour of rotational bands in 163,165,167Yb

Several rotational bands in ^163,165,167Yb are observed in (HI,xnγe^?) experiments. The $\text{i}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>13</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ and $\text{3}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{[521]}$ bands do not backbend, whereas the $\text{5}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{[523]}$ bands do, indicating additional processes besides the rotational alignment of one $\text{i}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>13</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ neutron pair that are responsible for the backbending.     

Observation of proton alignment at the backbend in 136Nd

Lifetimes by the recoil-distance technique and g-factors by the IMPAC method have been measured for the 12⁺ and 10⁺ states above the backbend in ¹³⁶Nd. The sign and magnitude of the g-factors show the backbending results from $\text{h}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>11</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ proton (2qp) alignment.     

Neutron and proton alignment at high spin in 168W

Excited states in the neutron-deficient nucleus ¹⁶⁸W, populated in the ¹⁴⁸Sm(²⁴Mg, 4n)¹⁶⁸W reaction, have been studied using γ-ray spectroscopy. The yrast band, which is identified up to about spin 28, shows a very strong backbend at low frequency, $\text{h}\text{?}\text{ω}{}_{\mathrm{c}}\text{= 0.235}\text{MeV}$, attributed to the $\text{(i}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>13</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{)}{}^2$ neutron alignment. Evidence for a second backbend is also observed. A strongly populated odd-spin (probably negative-parity) sideband is also identified to the spin, and shows several band-crossing anomalies. The characterisation of the anomalies is made by comparison with CSM calculations. Proton and neutron alignments are probably present in the sideband, and the second backbend in the yrast sequence may be due to alignment of $\text{i}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>13</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ protons.     

Rotational bands in the odd-odd 152Eu nucleus

The ¹⁵⁰Nd(⁷Li, 5n) reaction has been used to study the high-spin states in the odd-odd nucleus ¹⁵²Eu. Two rotational bands of different behaviour have been identified: a rather regular band based on the I^π = 8^? isomeric state of configuration $\text{[413}\text{5}\text{2}\text{]}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>p</mtext>}}\text{[505}\text{11}\text{2}\text{]n}$ and a strongly decoupled system belonging to the configuration $\text{[}\text{h}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>11</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{]}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>p</mtext>}}\text{[i}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>13</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{]}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>n</mtext>}}$.It is shown in this work that the aligned angular momentum carried by each two-quasiparticle configuration in ¹⁵²Eu is the sum of the alignment of the odd neutron and odd proton, which indicates a negligible influence of the neutron-proton residual interaction. Particular attention has been focused on the strong deviations of the moment of inertia of the core when different quasiparticle configurations are involved.     

Band crossing and the prealignment B(E2) anomaly in 126Ba

A theoretical interpretation of the reduction in E2 strengths in ¹²⁶Ba prior to backbending is presented. A shell model basis is built from normal parity orbilals organized into multiplets of a pseudo SU(3) symmetry coupled to $\text{h}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>11</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ configurations restricted to states of seniority zero and two. Within the framework of the model the scattering of a pair of protons from normal parity to the $\text{h}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>11</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ orbital produces band crossing and a corresponding reduction in E2 transition strengths prior to pair alignment which is the principal mechanism of the backbending.     

Influence of Coriolis anti pairing and alignment on the rotational states in nuclei

The inclusion of both Coriolos anti pairing (CAP) and alignment in the simple $\text{i}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>13</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ model is studied. It is found that “backbending” occurs for too small angular frequencies in such a model.     

g-Factors of high-spin isomers in 194Hg and 196Hg

The g-factors of the 10⁺ isomeric states in ¹⁹⁴Hg and ¹⁹⁶Hg have been measured using the in beam IPAD method. The results $\text{g(}{}^{194}\text{Hg}\text{) = ?0.24(4)}$ and $\text{g(}{}^{196}\text{Hg}\text{) = ?0.18(9)}$ are in agreement with the value expected for an ($\text{i}{}_1\text{3}\text{2}$^?2) neutron satructure and clearly contradict the previous assignment as ($\text{h}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}{}^{\mathrm{?2}}$) proton configurations. Cranking model calculations show that the neutron excitation energies in the rotating frame agree satisfactorily with the experimental energies and that the proton excitations are expected ≈2 MeV above the experimental yrast line     

VAMPIR calculations for 128Ba and 130Ce: Two mechanisms of backbending

Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov calculations with spin and number projection before the variation (VAMPIR) are performed for the nuclei ¹²⁸Ba and ¹³⁰Ce using a slightly renormalized Brueckner G-matrix as effective interaction in a rather large single-particle basis. The results are compared to those of Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov calculations with projection after the variation, those of multiconfiguration calculations (MONSTER) and to experiment. In both nuclei the VAMPIR and the MONSTER approaches turn out to be of about the same quality and agree rather well with the experimental data. Analysis of the VAMPIR mean fields reveals that two somewhat different mechanisms are responsible for the backbending observed in the yrast bands of the two nuclei. While in ¹³⁰Ce the well-known alignment of two high-j quasiparticles (proton $\text{h}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>11</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$) is found, in ¹²⁸Ba first a neutron pair is scattered from the $\text{h}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>11</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ to the $\text{g}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>7</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ orbit, and then the larger alignment energy of the less occupied neutron $\text{h}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>11</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ states produces the backbend. This latter effect is in agreement with the predictions of a simple model presented by us some years ago.     

Backbending in 167Hf and 168Hf and the band-crossing picture

Using two Compton-suppression spectrometers in an E_γ?E_γ coincidence experiment, the yrast bands in ^167,168Hf were extended up to $\text{49}\text{2}$ and 28 ?, respectively. The i ${}_{\mathrm{<mtext>13</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ positive parity band in ¹⁶⁷Hf experiences backbending at a higher frequency than the first backbending in ¹⁶⁸Hf, and no second backbending is obseerved in ¹⁶⁸Hf. New information is threby obtained on the nature and interaction strength of the crossing bands in the vicinity of N = 96.     

Magnetic moments of (νi132)−n isomers in neutron-deficient lead isotopes

The magnetic moments of the 12⁺ isomers in ^{192, 196, 198, 200, 206}Pb and of the $\text{33}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ isomer in ²⁰⁵Pb have been measured using the PAD technique. The results for the g-factors are: g(192) = ?0.173(2), g(196) = ?0.1600(15), g(198) = ?0.1552(15), g(200) = ?0.1512(15), g(206) = ?0.1496(18), and g(205) = ?0.148(5). As all states have a rather pure $\text{(νi}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>13</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{)}{}^{\mathrm{?n}}$ configuration, the values reflect directly the $\text{νi}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>13</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ orbital. They show a decrease towards the more neutron-deficient isotopes attributed to the reduced core polarisation as a result of decreasing occupation of the $\text{i}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>13</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ neutron shell. The measured systematics are discussed regarding core polarisation, mesonic corrections, and small admixtures of core-excited states to the $\text{i}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>13</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ wave function.     

Spin alignment in the particle-rotor and cranking models

It is shown that the cranking model normally gives a smaller rotation-aligned spin for an odd quasiparticle than the particle-rotor model, especially at low rotational frequencies. The basic reason is found to be that the rotational frequency vector of the cranking model is “sharp”. This is an unphysical model property, and in the presence of a particle whose rotational motion is partly decoupled from the rotational motion of the average field its consequences become serious. A “sharp” rotational frequency corresponds to a neglect of the recoil effect that establishes coherence between the motion of the decoupled nucleon and the other nucleons and therefore is a prerequisite for the conservation of angular momentum. In conclusion the cranking model cannot be invoked to explain the so-called “Coriolis attenuation”, relative to the particle-rotor model, that is observed experimentally. Particle-rotor calculations are carried out into the backbending region of some well-deformed rare-earth nuclei, and the results indicate that the “Coriolis attenuation” effect is weak or absent at high rotational frequencies. However, the experimental $\text{i}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>13</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$, unfavoured band of ¹⁶⁷Yb is found to exhibit an anomalous “downbending” behaviour.     

Magnetic moments in the backbending region of 158Dy

Yrast levels in the backbending region of ¹⁵⁸Dy were Coulomb excited with a 4.7 MeV/u ²⁰⁸Pb beam. Employing the transient field technique with a thin magnetized iron foil, the precessions of the angular correlations of decay γ-rays from levels up to spin I^π = 16⁺ were measured. The results show a clear reduction of the g-factor for states in the backbending region relative to that of the low-spin levels, thus demonstrating that the backbending in ¹⁵⁸Dy is mainly caused by the alignment of $\text{i}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>13</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ neutrons. In a similar experiment, precession measurements on Coulomb excited low-spin levels of ¹⁶⁴Dy served to determine the static hyperfine field of Dy in Fe and the g-factor of the 6⁺ state in ¹⁶⁴Dy.     

Self-consistent field description of high spin states in rare earth nuclei

The Hartree-Fock-Begoliubov cranking equations are solved for ^{168, 170}Yb and ¹⁷⁴Hf. Deformation and pairing properties are both obtained with a G-matrix derived from the Reid soft-core potential. The high spin anomalies are attributed to the disappearance of the neutron pair gap in ¹⁶⁸Yb, the realignment of an $\text{i}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>13</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$. neutron pair in ¹⁷⁰Yb, and a combination of these two mechanisms in ¹⁷⁴Hf. Two bands intersecting at high spin are found for ¹⁷⁴Hf.     

Connection between backbending and high-spin isomer decay in 179W

A new 710 ns isomer in ¹⁷⁹W is found to decay directly into backbending region of the $\text{7}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{-}}\text{(514)}$ gorund-state band. The $\text{i}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>13</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ band is observed up to spin $\text{41}\text{2}$ and shows no evidence for backbending at core rotational frequencies, where the effect is observed in the ¹⁷⁹W and ¹⁸⁰W ground-state bands.     

γ−γ energy correlations in 167,168Hf observed with two compton-suppression spectrometers

The γ?γ energy correlation matrix obtained from ¹⁵⁹Tb(¹⁴N,xn)reactions at 95 MeV exhibits a low-intensity central valley with smoothly decreasing width when the rotational frequency increases, indicating an increasing collective moment of inertia. Enhanced intensities in valley at $\text{h}\text{?}\text{ω = 0.42}$ and 0.52 MeV are observed for the first time in the HF isotopes and are interpreted as due to band crossings which may involve i${}_{\mathrm{<mtext>13</mtext><mtext>2</mtext><mtext>,f</mtext><mtext>7</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ neutron and $\text{h}\text{11}\text{2}$ proton or higher orbital.     

Evidence for triaxial shapes in Pt nuclei

Positive parity levels in ¹⁹¹Pt obtained from (α, xnγ) reactions and β-decay are presented as a first example of a rather complete $\text{i}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>13</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ level family. The spectrum confirms triaxial shapes found before from $\text{h}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>11</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ and $\text{h}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>9</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ proton structures in this mass region. In addition to the usual decoupled yrast band, a second ΔI = 2 band within the $\text{i}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>13</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ family, built on a low-lying $\text{j?1 =}\text{11}\text{2}$ state, is observed in agreement with theory.     

Magnetic moment of the 1h113 single-proton state in 141pr

A magnetic dipole core polarization was studied by investigating a magnetic moment of the 1117 keV $\text{1}\text{h}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>11</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ single-proton state in ¹⁴¹Pr. The ¹³⁹La(α, 2nγ)¹⁴¹Pr reaction was used to populate the $\text{1}\text{h}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>11</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ state with spin aligned in a plane perpendicular to the beam axis. The magnetic moment was obtained by measuring perturbed angular distributions of the 972 keV gamma rays from the $\text{1}\text{h}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>11</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ state. The g-factor of the $\text{1}\text{h}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>11</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ state in ¹⁴¹Pr was determined to be g = 1.30 ± 0.08. The isovector spin g-factor was deduced from the present result and the data for $\text{1}\text{h}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>11</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$. neutron states. It is $\text{g}{}_{\mathrm{s?}}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>eff</mtext>}}\text{g}{}_{\mathrm{s?}}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>free</mtext>}}\text{= 0.45 ± 0.1}$. The reduction is explaine spin-isospin (M1) core polarization.The isovector M1 core polarization factor (nuclear M1 susceptibility) is found to be one third of the M2 core polarization factor (nuclear M2 susceptibility) for the $\text{1}\text{h}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>11</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ state.