High-spin isomer in 93Mo

The high-spin states of ⁹³Mo have been studied by a ⁸²Se( ¹⁶O, 5n) ⁹³Mo reaction at a beam energy of 100 MeV using techniques of in-beam -ray spectroscopy. Measurements of -t, --t coincidences, -ray angular distributions and -ray linear polarizations were performed. The high-spin isomer was found as a (39/2^-) state at about 9.7 MeV. The near-yrast states in ⁹³Mo were interpreted using the weak-coupling picture of a d_5/2 neutron to a neutron magic core nucleus ⁹²Mo.     

Medium-spin excitations of the neutron-rich 84Se isotope: Possible decrease in energy of the N = 50 neutron-core excitation

The ⁸⁴Se nucleus has been produced as fission fragment in the fusion reaction ¹⁸O + ²⁰⁸Pb at 85MeV bombarding energy and studied with the Euroball IV array. Medium-spin states of this neutron-rich isotope have been identified for the first time. Its level scheme has been obtained up to 4.9MeV excitation energy and spin I 7. Its structure is interpreted by analogy with those of the stable heavier isotones. The evolution of the energy of the N = 50 neutron-core excitation is discussed as a function of the proton number.     

Beta-decay studies of neutron-rich Sc- Cr nuclei

The neutron-rich nuclei ₂₁^{57, 58}Sc, ₂₂^58-60Ti, ₂₃^60-63V, ₂₄^62-66Cr have been produced at Ganil via interactions of a 61.8A MeV ⁷⁶Ge beam with a ⁵⁸Ni target. Beta-decay studies have been performed using combined - and -ray spectroscopy. Half-lives have been determined and -decay schemes are proposed for ⁵⁸Ti, ⁶¹V and ⁶²Cr. From these studies, new hints for the existence of -decaying isomers in ⁶⁰V and in ⁶²Mn are provided. These results are compared to shell model calculations. The role of the f_7/2- f_5/2 proton-neutron interaction is examined through its influence on the lifetime values.     

Gamma-ray spectroscopy in 110Sn and 111Sn

Excited states in ¹¹⁰Sn and ¹¹¹Sn nuclei have been investigated using in-beam -ray spectroscopic methods. An ¹⁶O beam with an energy of 60-80MeV was used to bombard a ⁹⁸Mo target. On the basis of the relative excitation functions, -ray angular distributions, - and -time distributions, -ray multiplicity and total energy data, the level schemes of ¹¹⁰Sn and ¹¹¹Sn have been studied and extended up to E_exc 11.5MeV, I = 24, and E_exc 11.1MeV and I = (51/2), respectively. An extension of the intruder, g.s. and negative-parity bands, as well as 5 new band-like structures are proposed in ¹¹⁰Sn. The nature of newly introduced collective band 8 as well as 10⁺ states fed in the decay of the collective band is discussed. In the ¹¹¹Sn nucleus an intruder band based on the 23/2^- state has been reinvestigated and the extension of the g.s. band and second negative-parity band is given. Evidence for neutron-core coupling in ¹¹¹Sn is found. The structure and systematics of excited states in light Sn isotopes is discussed.     

Coexisting oblate and strongly triaxial structures in <Superscript>191</Superscript>Pt

Excited states in ¹⁹¹Pt have been populated using the reaction ¹⁸⁶W + ¹¹B at 85MeV beam energy. Gamma-ray coincidences were measured using the EUROGAM-II spectrometer array. The level scheme has been extended considerably. Evidence for favoured structures of highly triaxial shape with -90^° coexisting with oblate structures has been obtained by comparison with total Routhian surface and cranked shell model calculations. The presence of proton excitations in both positive- and negative-parity states has been confirmed.     

Levels in <Superscript>127</Superscript>La fed by the <Superscript>127</Superscript>Ce beta-decay

The low-lying levels in ¹²⁷La have been studied through the -decay of ¹²⁷Ce ( T_1/2 = 29s) produced by bombarding a ^natMo target with a 185-MeV ³⁵Cl beam. Reaction products were on-line mass-separated, and -ray singles and - coincidence measurements were performed. Conversion electrons were also measured and multipolarities of transitions have been derived. The half-life of the 210.9-keV level was determined to be (1.9±0.3)ns by the - delayed coincidence technique. The level scheme obtained has been compared with calculations based on the Nilsson model.     

Precision measurement of the half-life and the decay branches of 62Ga

In an experiment performed at the Accelerator Laboratory of the University of Jyväskylä, the -decay half-life of ⁶²Ga has been studied with high precision using the IGISOL technique. A half-life of T_1/2 = 116.09(17) ms was measured. Using - coincidences, the intensity of the 954 keV transition and an upper limit of the -decay feeding of the 0⁺₂ state have been extracted. The present experimental results are compared to previous measurements and their impact on our understanding of the weak interaction is discussed.     

First observation of excited states in the <Superscript>111</Superscript>Tc nucleus --A new region of deformation at 40 ⩽ Z ⩽ 46, N ≥ 68?

The ¹¹¹Tc nucleus, populated in the spontaneous fission of ²⁴⁸Cm, was studied by means of prompt -ray spectroscopy using the EUROGAM2 array. Excited states in ¹¹¹Tc were observed for the first time. Systematics of energy levels in odd-A Tc isotopes, obtained in our study of ¹⁰⁷Tc and ¹⁰⁹Tc provide a reliable spin and parity assignment I = 5/2⁺ to the head of the new band in ¹¹¹Tc, interpreted as the 5/2⁺[422] orbital originating from the proton g_9/2 shell. This level is most likely the ground state. Therefore, the (9/2⁺,7/2⁺) spin-parity assignment to the ground state of ¹¹¹Tc, reported previously, is unlikely. Properties of the yrast band in ¹¹¹Tc suggest prolate deformation of this band. There are hints that the deformation of ¹¹¹Tc is larger than that of ¹⁰⁹Tc, possibly due to admixtures of oblate-deformed configurations, which lower their excitation energy with increasing neutron number.     

First evidence for chirality in Tc isotopes: Spectroscopy of 100Tc

Excited states in ¹⁰⁰Tc have been studied using the ⁹⁶Zr( ⁷Li, 3n) reaction at a beam energy of 27 MeV. In the present work, evidence has been found for a second I = 1 band decaying via several stretched dipole transitions to the previously known I = 1 negative-parity band. Comparison of these data with those in neighbouring nuclei and also against recently reported criteria for chiral bands in nuclei, suggests that the two structures can be interpreted as chiral partners. Core quasi-particle coupling model calculations show reasonable agreement with the data and generally support the chiral interpretation of the states.     

EC and α decays of 235Am

EC and decays of ²³⁵Am have been studied using a gas-jet coupled on-line isotope separator. Excited states in ²³⁵Pu have been established for the first time by means of -ray spectroscopy following the EC decay of ²³⁵Am. The deduced log ft value suggests that the ground state of ²³⁵Am should have the 5/2^-[523] configuration. The - coincidence result has revealed that the 5/2^-[523] state in ²³¹Np populated by the favored transition of ²³⁵Am is located at < 15 keV, which allows us to precisely determine the Q value of ²³⁵Am.     

Halo or skin in the excited states of some light mirror nuclei

The properties of three pairs of mirror nuclei ¹³N- ¹³C, ¹⁵N- ¹⁵O and ²¹Na- ²¹Ne (these mirror nuclei are all made of a good inert core plus an unpaired valence nucleon) are investigated by using the nonlinear relativistic mean-field (RMF) theory. It is found that the calculated binding energies with two different parameter sets are very close to the experimental ones for both the ground states and the excited states except for the large deformed nuclei. The calculations show that the 2s_1/2 excited states of ¹⁵N and of ²¹Na are both weakly bound with a proton halo and a proton skin (or a pigmy proton skin), respectively. In addition, the 1d_5/2 excited state of ¹³C and the 2s_1/2 excited state of ¹⁵O are also weakly bound with a neutron skin, respectively. The ratio of the valence nucleon radius to matter radius is deduced and it can be regarded as an additional criterion for the existence of exotic structure. The unbound 2s_1/2 and 1d_5/2 excited states of ¹³N are also discussed.     

Decay studies of <Superscript>214-216</Superscript>Ac by α- γ- γ-coincidences

The -decay fine structure of ²¹⁴Ac, ²¹⁵Ac and ²¹⁶Ac has been studied using the --coincidence technique. The nuclei were produced by ²⁰⁹Bi( ¹²C, xn)^221-xAc-reactions. Evaporation residues were separated in-flight from the primary beam using the velocity filter SHIP at GSI, Darmstadt. The separated nuclei were implanted into a position-sensitive 16-strip PIPS Si detector and their subsequent decays were measured. In these studies new and improved decay data for ^214-216Ac were obtained.     

The βdecay of 147Cs to 147Ba

The ^--decay of ¹⁴⁷Cs to ¹⁴⁷Ba has been studied by means of - and X-ray spectroscopy. A new level scheme of ¹⁴⁷Ba is significantly modified and extended in comparison to the one previously reported. The Advanced Time-Delayed (t) method has been applied to measure half-lives of the 46.2 and 85.4 keV levels in ¹⁴⁷Ba yielding T_1/2 of 510(80) ps and 370(100) ps, respectively. The lifetime results combined with the deduced internal conversion coefficients allowed to assign M1 multipolarity to three transitions. The B(M1) values obtained for the 39.2, 46.2 and 85.4 keV transitions range from 0.017 to 0.043 W.u. and represent typical B(M1) strength in the Ba-Er region. Model calculations using a shell correction approach with the axially deformed Woods-Saxon potential predict for ¹⁴⁷Ba an octupole deformed ground state with ₃ = 0.11.     

Beta-decay of 71Co and 73Co

A decay spectroscopy study of the neutron-rich cobalt isotopes has been performed using fragmentation of a ⁸⁶Kr³⁶⁺ beam and the new LISE2000 spectrometer at GANIL. For ⁷¹Co and ⁷³Co, the -delayed radiation has been observed for the first time, and the half-lives were found to be 79(5) ms and 41(4) ms, respectively. Features of the decay are discussed qualitatively in terms of nuclear models.     

Observation of a superdeformed band in <Superscript>190</Superscript>Pb

A superdeformed band has been observed in the N = 108 isotope ¹⁹⁰Pb. This is the most neutron-deficient Pb isotope in which superdeformed states have been observed. Several theoretical approaches have predicted that N = 108 will mark the limit of observable superdeformation in the Pb isotopes. The band, which consists of five (possibly six) transitions, is observed to feed at least one isomeric level in its decay to the ground state. This decay pattern supports a spin assignment of 10 for the lowest observed level.     

Two-neutrino double- β decay of 94 ⩽ A ⩽ 110 nuclei for the 0<Superscript>+</Superscript> → 0<Superscript>+</Superscript> transition

The two-neutrino double-beta decay of ^{94, 96}Zr,^98,100Mo,¹⁰⁴Ru and ¹¹⁰Pd nuclei for the 0⁺0⁺ transition is studied in the PHFB model in conjunction with the summation method. In the first step, the reliability of the intrinsic wave functions has been established by obtaining an overall agreement between a number of theoretically calculated spectroscopic properties and the available experimental data for ^{94, 96}Zr,^94,96,98,100Mo, ^98,100,104Ru, ^104,110Pd and ¹¹⁰Cd isotopes. Subsequently, the PHFB wave functions of the above-mentioned nuclei are employed to calculate the nuclear transition matrix elements M₂ as well as half-lives T_1/2². Furthermore, we have studied the effects of deformation on the M₂.     

Neutron and light-charged-particle productions in proton-induced reactions on 208Pb at 62.9 MeV

Neutrons and light charged particles produced in 62.9MeV proton-induced reactions on ²⁰⁸Pb were measured during a single experiment performed at the CYCLONE facility in Louvain-la-Neuve (Belgium). Two independent experimental set-ups were used to extract double differential cross-sections for neutrons, protons, deuterons, tritons, ³He and alpha-particles. Charged particles were detected using a set of Si- Si- CsI telescopes from 25^° to 155^°, by step of 10 degrees. Neutrons were measured using shielded DeMoN counters, liquid NE213 scintillators, at 24^°, 35^°, 55^°, 80^° and 120^°. These data allowed the determination of angle differential, energy differential and total production cross-sections. A comparison with theoretical calculations (MCNPX, FLUKA and TALYS) has been performed. It shows that the neutron and proton production rates are well predicted by MCNPX, using the INCL4 option. All the other codes underestimate the neutron production whereas they overestimate the proton one. For composite particles, which represent 17% of the charged particle total reaction cross-section, neither the shape nor the amplitude of the cross-sections are correctly predicted by the models.     

High-spin excitations of 81, 82, 83, 85Se : Competing single-particle and collective structures around N = 50

The ^{81, 82, 83, 85}Se nuclei have been produced as fission fragments in the fusion reaction ¹⁸O + ²⁰⁸Pb at 85MeV bombarding energy and studied with the Euroball IV array. Their high-spin level schemes have been built from the triple -ray coincidence data and - angular correlations have been analyzed in order to assign spin and parity values to many observed states. The lowest-spin states of the two-neutron and three-neutron configurations are strongly mixed with two-proton excitations among the fp orbits. On the other hand, the highest-spin states of these neutron configurations are found to remain almost pure. Neutron excitation across the N = 50 gap is observed both in ⁸³Se₄₉ and in ⁸⁵Se₅₁ .     

Alpha-decay of neutron-deficient 200Fr and heavier neighbours

A new measurement of the ²⁰⁰Fr -decay half-life, with improved accuracy compared to previous measurements, has been carried out at the Isolde-CERN on-line mass separator. A half-life of 49(4) ms has been obtained, which is substantially different from earlier literature values. For the ¹⁹⁶At daughter decay, a half-life of 389(54) ms and an branching ratio b = 94(5)% were measured. In addition, the half-lives of ^{201, 203, 205}Fr and ^197,199At are reported.     

Collective structures of the <Superscript>131</Superscript>Cs nucleus

The collective structures of ¹³¹Cs have been investigated by in-beam -ray spectroscopic techniques following the ¹²⁴Sn (^11B , 4n) reaction at a beam energy E_lab = 57MeV. The previously established rotational bands, built on g_7/2, d_5/2 and the unique-parity h_11/2 orbitals, have been extended and evolve into new bands involving rotationally aligned (h_11/2)² and (h_11/2)² quasiparticles. In addition, a new multiquasiparticle band based on the g_7/2 g_7/2 h_11/2 configuration has also been observed. Theoretical interpretations for the assigned configurations are discussed in the framework of Total Routhian Surface (TRS) and Tilted Axis Cranking (TAC) model calculations. TAC model calculations predict a decrease in the B(M1) values with increasing rotational frequency for the g_7/2/d_5/2 (h_11/2)² and h_11/2 (h_11/2)² bands, thus indicating a magnetic rotation character for these bands.