In-beam study of 144Gd

A level scheme of ¹⁴⁴Gd has been established using the ¹⁴⁴Sm(α, 4nγ) reaction and in-beam spectroscopy methods. Excitation functions, γ-ray angular distributions, γ-γ coincidence spectra, γ-spectra time related to the cyclotron beam bursts and conversion coefficients for the delayed transitions have been measured.The level scheme comprises 11 levels with spins up to I = 12. Two isomers, a 13 ± 2 ns, 7^? state at 2471.4 keV and a 145 ± 30 ns, 10⁺ state at 3433.0 keV have been observed. The former has similar excitation energy as the 7^? isomers in ¹⁴²Sm, ¹⁴⁰Nd and ¹³⁸Ce and it may arise from the $\text{{ν}\text{d}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>3</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}\text{× ν}\text{h}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>11</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}\text{}}$ configuration although its lifetime seems to indicate some degree of collectivity. The 10⁺ state has a similar excitation energy as the 10⁺ isomer found in ¹³⁸Ce and it may arise from the dominant $\text{ν}\text{h}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>11</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}{}^{\mathrm{?2}}$ configuration. Below the 10⁺ isomer in ¹⁴⁴Gd only two excited states have positive parity; the hitherto known first 2⁺ and 4⁺ states. The 11⁺ and 12⁺ states must include four-particle configurations or they have to be of collective nature. The latter possibility is supported by the considerable E2/M1 mixture (≈ 20 %) observed for the 11⁺ to 10⁺ transition. An analysis of the systematics of ground band levels in the N = 80 isotones shows the same gradual behavior between the two VMI solutions previously found for the Te isotopes.     

Levels in 156Gd studied in the (n, γ) reaction

Levels up to 2.3 MeV in ¹⁵⁶Gd have been studied using the (n, γ) reaction. Energies and intensities of low-energy γ-rays and electrons emitted after thermal neutron capture have been measured with a curved-crystal spectrometer, Ge(Li) detectors and a magnetic electron spectrometer. High-energy (primary) γ-rays and electrons have been measured with Ge(Li) detectors and a magnetic spectrometer. The high-energy γ-ray spectrum has also been measured in thermal neutron capture in 2 keV resonance neutron capture. The neutron separation energy in ¹⁵⁶Gd was measured as S_n = 8535.8 ± 0.5 keV.About 600 transitions were observed of which ~50% could be placed in a level scheme containing more than 50 levels up to 2.3 MeV excitation energy. 42 of these levels were grouped into 15 excited bands. In addition to the β-band at 1050 keV we observe 0⁺ bands at 1168, 1715 and 1851 keV. Other positive-parity bands are: 1⁺ bands at 1966, 2027 and 2187 keV; 2⁺ bands at 1154 (γ-band) and 1828 keV; and 4⁺ bands at 1511 and 1861 keV. Negative-parity bands are observed at 1243 keV (1^?), 1366 keV (0^?), 1780 keV (2^?) and 2045 keV (4^?). Reduced E2 and E0 transition probabilities have been derived for many transitions. The ground band, the β- and γ-bands and the 0⁺ band at 1168 keV have been included in a phenomenological four-band mixing calculation, which reproduces well the experimental energies and E2 transition probabilities.The lowest three negative-parity (octupole) bands of which the 0^? and the 1^? bands are very strongly mixed, were included in a Coriolis-coupling analysis, which reproduces well the observed energies. The E1 transition probabilities to the ground band are also well reproduced, while those from the higher-lying 0⁺ bands to the octupole bands are not reproduced. Absolute and relative transition probabilities have been compared with predictions of the IBA model and the pairingplus-quadrupole model. Both models reproduce well the E2 transitions from the γ-band, while strong disagreements are found for the E2 transitions from the β-band. The IBA model predicts part of the decay features of the higher lying 2⁺₂, 4⁺₁ and 2^?₁ bands.     

Collective and two-quasiparticle states in 158Gd observed through study of radiative neutron capture in 157Gd

The level structure of ¹⁵⁸Gd has been studied using the prompt γ-rays and conversion electrons emitted following neutron capture in ¹⁵⁷Gd. The γ-ray energy and intensity measurements were made using both Ge(Li) detectors and a curved-crystal spectrometer. Conversion-electron energy and intensity measurements were made using two separate magnetic spectrometers: one to measure the primary electron spectrum and the other to measure the lower energy secondary electron spectrum. Some γ-γ coincidence measurements were also made among the secondary γ-rays. From these data, a neutron separation energy of 7937.1 ± 0.5 keV has been determined for ¹⁵⁸Gd. A level scheme containing 59 excited states with energies < 2.25 MeV, for which de-excitation modes have been identified, is proposed for ¹⁵⁸Gd. Many of these states have been grouped into rotational bands. A total of thirteen excited rotational bands with band-head energies below 2.0 MeV are contained in the level scheme. Features of the proposed level scheme include: the K^π = 0^?, 1^? and 2^? octupole-vibrational bands with band-head energies of 1263, 977 and 1793 keV, respectively; the γ-vibrational band at 1187 keV; three excited K^π = 0⁺ bands with band-head energies of 1196, 1452 and 1743 keV; several two-quasiparticle bands with band-head energies in keV (and K^π assignments) of 1380 (4⁺), 1636 (4^?), 1847 (1⁺), 1856 (1^?), 1920 (4⁺) and 1930 (1⁺). An analysis of (d, p) reaction data is presented which permits definite two-quasiparticle configuration assignments to be made to most of these latter bands. Evidence is presented which suggests strong mixing of some two-neutron and two-proton bands. A phenomenological four-band mixing analysis is made of the energy and E2 transition-probability data for the ground-state band and the three lowest-lying excited collective positive-parity bands. Good agreement with experiment is obtained. A Coriolis-mixing analysis of the octupole bands has been carried out and good agreement with the data on level energies and E1 transition probabilities to the ground-state band has been achieved. Values of Z, the ratio of the E1 transition matrix element with ΔK = 1 to that with ΔK = 0, involving the octupole bands and the first four 0⁺ bands are derived. For three of these 0⁺ bands, absolute values of these matrix elements are deduced. An interesting alternation in the sign of Z is observed for these four 0⁺ bands.     

Anomalous moments of inertia for high-spin levels in the beta vibrational band of 154Gd

The levels of ¹⁵⁴Gd populated by the ¹⁵⁴Sm(α,4n) reaction have been studied with γ-γ coincidence techniques. The energy spacings of the β-band levels of spin > 8 are found to differ from the rotational picture in a manner similar to that recently observed in the ground-state bands of some other rare-earth nuclei. The ground-state band of ¹⁵⁴Gd does not show the anomaly;     

Vibrational band structure in 184W populated in the decay of 184Re

The decay of ^184mRe has been investigated through γ-ray and conversion electron studies. The band head of the K^π = 2^? octupole band has been established at 1130.0 keV. The E2/M1 mixing ratios of three transitions from the γ-vibrational band to the ground state band have been determined by angular correlation measurements. A mixing of El, M2 and E3 multipolarity has been derived for the 921 keV transition combining angular correlation and conversion electron data. A value B(E3, 0⁺ → 3^? = (25 ± 5) × 10⁴e² · fm⁶ was obtained from the measured E2/M1 mixing of the 91 keV 3^? → → 2^? transition and γ-branchings. The data are discussed in terms of the collective model taking into account band mixing.     

Lifetime of the 6+ member of the ground-state band in 22Ne

Mean lifetimes of levels in ²²Ne have been measured by the Doppler-shift attenuation method using the inverse reaction ⁴He(¹⁹F, pγ)²²Ne. The Doppler-broadened lineshapes observed at 0° were analyzed using scaled experimental stopping powers and give the following results for each of the following levels (energy in keV and lifetime in fs): 4457 ( < 15), 5147 (1300 ± 500), 5522 (27 ± 4), 5641 ( < 20), 6311 (70 ± 10), 6345 ( < 15), 6636 ( < 20) and 6817 ( < 15). The lifetime of the 6311 keV 6⁺ level is particularly interesting for testing model predictions. The large basis shell model calculations of Preedom and Wildenthal are in good agreement with the experimental B(E2) values for the 2⁺, 4⁺ and 6⁺ members of the ground-state band.     

Multipolarities of prompt transitions in 156Dy and spin-parities of the upper band levels

The prompt γ-ray and conversion-electron spectra following the ¹⁵⁹Tb(p, 4n)¹⁵⁶Dy and ¹⁵⁶Gd(α, 4n)¹⁵⁶Dy reactions have been measured with, respectively, a Ge(Li)-NaI(Tl) Compton suppression device and a mini-orange spectrometer. On the basis of the deduced multipolarities, earlier spin-parity assignments for levels in ¹⁵⁶Dy have been confirmed. Furthermore, the recently reported upper band levels could be divided into a negative-parity band up to 11^? or maybe 13^?, and a positive-parity band with tentative K = 0 character and spins 4⁺, 6⁺, 8⁺, 10⁺ and maybe 2⁺. The negative-parity band is described as an aligned-octupole band; the positive-parity band may possibly represent the low-spin extension of the superband responsible for backbending in the β- and ground-state bands in this nucleus.     

The level structure of 156Gd studied by means of the (α, 2nγ) reaction

A complete set of conventional γ-ray spectroscopic techniques has been applied to investigate the level structure of ¹⁵⁶Gd. A total of twenty-five new levels has been established; unambiguous spin assignments could be given for twelve of them on the basis of angular distributions and conversion electron measurements. The proposed level scheme contains 49 levels, which can be ordered in seven rotational bands. The ground-state band was excited up to J^π = 14⁺, the β-band up to 10⁺, the γ-band up to (11⁺), the second K^π = 0⁺ band tentatively up to (10⁺), the K^π = 4⁺ band up to (8⁺). Two negative-parity bands, one with even spins and one with odd spins, were excited to J^π = (12^?) and (13^?). An isomeric state was established with $\text{T}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{= 1.3 μs, J}{}^{\mathrm{\pi }}\text{= 7}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{, E}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>x</mtext>}}\text{= 2137.7}\text{keV}$. The properties of the K^π = 4⁺ band and the isomeric state can be well explained by two-quasiparticle configurations. The negative-parity bands are interpreted as aligned octupole bands. Positive and negative-parity bands have been calculated in terms of the IBA model. Good agreement with the experimental results is obtained.     

Medium-spin levels and the character of the 20.4 ns 132+ isomer in 145Gd

Levels of the N = 81 nucleus ¹⁴⁵Gd have been investigated by in-beam γ-ray and conversion electron spectroscopy with the ¹⁴⁴Sm(³He, 2n) reaction. Fourteen new low- and medium-spin states between 1.0 and 2.4 MeV excitation, the known yrast levels up to spin $\text{21}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$, five other high-spin non-yrast states and a new 20.4 ns $\text{13}\text{2}$ isomer at 2200.2 keV in ¹⁴⁵Gd have been observed. The isomer decays via a fast 927.3 keV E3 transition with B(E3) = 48 ± 7 W.u. Another weaker decay branch is a mixed, strongly hindered E1 + M2 + E3 transition to the $\text{v}\text{h}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>11</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ state. We propose an octupole $\text{v}\text{f}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>7</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{j}{}^{\mathrm{?2}}\text{× 3}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$ main configuration for the isomer, analogous to the 997 keV $\text{13}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ isomer in ¹⁴⁷Gd. The levels of ¹⁴⁵Gd are discussed on the basis of the spherical shell model.     

New determination of the 127I and 129I Mössbauer isomer shift calibration constants

New experimental data on the chemical changes δλ/λ of the probabilities λ of electron capture by ¹²³I and ¹²⁵I nuclei are treated taking into account the dependence of the exchange and overlap effect on the state of the electronic shell of the atom. The change δ?(0) in the electronic charge density at the iodine nucleus is evaluated and used for determination of the changes δ〈r²〉 in the mean square charge radius of the ¹²⁷I and ¹²⁹I nuclei on transition from the ground state to the first excited state. The δ〈r²〉 values determined, ?(10.0 ± 1.0) × 10^?3 fm² for ¹²⁷I and (13.0 ± 1.3) × 10^?3 fm² for ¹²⁹I, are in excellent agreement with the “best” values, recommended by Ruby and Shenoy.     

The g-factors of the first 2+ states in 50, 54Cr, 54Fe and 70Ge

The gyromagnetic ratios of the first excited J^π = 2⁺ states of ^50,54Cr, ⁵⁴Fe and ⁷⁰Ge have been determined by the ion-implantation perturbed angular correlation technique (IMPAC) with ferromagnetic Gd as stopping material. The g-factors were extracted from the measured precession angles with use of known lifetimes, static hyperfine magnetic fields and transient hyperfine magnetic field data for fast ions traversing ferromagnetic lattices. The deduced values are 0.59 ± 0.10, 0.56 ± 0.10, 1.08±0.19 and 0.38±0.08, respectively. With the exception of ⁵⁴Fe all g-factors are close to the collective value. A re-evaluation of earlier IMPAC data on ^{70, 72, 74, 76}Ge with Fe as stopping material has been performed. The value obtained for ⁷⁰Ge is in good agreement with the one measured in this work.     

Measurement of the parity non-conservation in nuclear forces in 75As, 171Tm,and 175Lu and of the polarized bremsstrahlung from 51Cr, 170Tm, 177Lu,and 198Au

The circular polarization P of γ-rays from unpolarized sources of ⁷⁵Se, ¹⁷¹Er, and ¹⁷⁵Yb of strengths ? 500 Ci has been measured with a Compton polarimeter of the radial transmission type. Eight NaI crystals and a four-fold current integration system were used to simultaneously record the data in four independent channels. The results are: P = ?(1.8 ± 6.0) × 10^?5 for the 401 keV transition in ⁷⁵As (the experimental error is ± 1.5 × 10^?5, the remaining part is due to the uncertainty in the decay scheme of ⁷⁵Se), P = (0.8 ± 1.5) × 10^?4 for the 296 keV and 308 keV transition in ¹⁷¹Tm, and P = (5.7 ± 0.8) × 10^?5 for the 396 keV transition in ¹⁷⁵Lu. The last value confirms the parity non-conservation in nuclear forces. The polarimeter was calibrated with bremsstrahlung from ¹⁷⁰Tm. The correction for polarized bremsstrahlung was given special attention. Correction factors are derived for ⁵¹Cr, ¹⁷⁷Lu, and ¹⁹⁸Au from a comparison of the measured and calculated bremsstrahlung yields.     

Search for direct CP violating charge asymmetries in K±→π±π+π- and K±→π±π0π0 decays

A measurement of the direct CP violating charge asymmetries of the Dalitz plot linear slopes A_g=(g⁺-g^-)/(g⁺+g^-) in K^±→π^±π⁺π^- and K^±→π^±π⁰π⁰ decays by the NA48/2 experiment at CERN SPS is presented. A new technique of asymmetry measurement involving simultaneous K⁺ and K^- beams and a large data sample collected allowed a result of an unprecedented precision. The charge asymmetries were measured to be A^c _g=(-1.5±2.2)×10^-4 with 3.11×10⁹K^±→π^±π⁺π^- decays, and Aⁿ _g=(1.8±1.8)×10^-4 with 9.13×10⁷K^±→π^±π⁰π⁰ decays. The precision of the results is limited mainly by the size of the data sample.     

Elastic and inelastic deuteron scattering from 152Sm and 162Dy

Angular distributions are measured for 12 MeV deuterons scattered to the 2⁺ and 4⁺ states in ¹⁵²Sm and ¹⁶²Dy. By including the couplings of the ground state to the low-lying excited states, it is shown that the experimental results can be explained by using optical model parameters form a spherical nucleus. Deformation amplitudes are deduced and compared to those found from inelastic α-particle scattering and from Coulomb excitation.     

Coulomb excitation in 180Hf

Coulomb excitation studies have been performed to measure transition probabilities of collective quadrupole vibrational states in ¹⁸⁰Hf. The I = 2 level of the K^π = 2⁺ collective γ-band is established at 1200.5 keV with B(E2)_exc = (11.0 ± 1.1) × 10^?50e² · cm⁴ (3.6 ± 0.4 s.p.u.). The angular distribution of the de-exciting γ-rays from this level yields δ = 9.6⁺²²_?5.8 or, less likely, 0.7 ± 0.2 for the 1107.2 keV 2_γ⁺ → 2_g⁺ transition. The B(E2)_exc for any K^πI = 0⁺2 stateorother 2⁺ states up to 1500 keV is less than 5 × 10^?51e² · cm⁴ (< 0.2. s.p.u.).     

Magnetic moments of high-spin states above the rotational band of 168Hf and 172Hf

The transient magnetic field IMPAC technique was used to measure the magnetic moments of high-spin states above the rotational band of ¹⁶⁸Hf and ¹⁷²Hf, populated in the reactions ^{156, 160}Gd(¹⁶O, 4n). The average g-factors of these prerotational feeding states were deduced to be 0.07 ± 0.04 and 0.14 ± 0.04 for ¹⁶⁸Hf and ¹⁷²Hf, respectively. These results are in agreement with a reduction of the collective g-factors due to a neutron phase transition.     

Beta-delayed proton emission from 97Cd and 99Cd

Two new β-delayed proton precursors, ^97,99Cd, have been identified at the ISOLDE on-line isotope separator. The proton branching ratio for ⁹⁹Cd is (1.7^+1.1_?0.5) × 10^?3. The ⁹⁹Cd proton spectrum is discussed in terms of the statistical model with Porter-Thomas fluctuations. The half-life of ⁹⁹Cd was determined to be 16±3 sec. A search for ⁹⁸Cd was also performed and it was found to be a pure β-emitter with a probable half-life of ≈ 8 sec.     

Microscopic determination of band interaction in 154Gd and 164Er

Microscopic equations describing the direct coupling of the ground state band with the beta-, gamma- and K^π = 1⁺ (responsible for the RAL effect) rotational bands are solved and the interaction strengths are obtained using a Woods-Saxon potential and P + QQ residual forces. The calculated non-adiabatic characteristics are found to be in good agreement with experimental data and are compared to other theories.     

The unusual strenght of the 5.14 → 1.27 MeV, 2− → 2+, transition in 22Ne

The lifetime of the 5.14 MeV excited state of ²²Ne was investigated by use of the electronic timing, recoil distance and Doppler shift attenuation techniques. A mean life τ = 1.2±0.3 ps was obtained, corresponding to a transition strenght of 9.8 × 10^?6W.u. for the El decay of this state.