Structure of high-spin states in 143Pm

High-spin states of ¹⁴³Pm have been studied in the reactions ¹⁴¹Pr(α, 2n)¹⁴³Pm and ¹⁴³Nd(d, 2n)¹⁴³Pm by means of in-beam spectroscopy. The level scheme, spin and parity assignments are based on results obtained from singles γ-ray spectra, conversion electron spectra, prompt and delayed γ-γ coincidences, γ-ray angular distribution and linear polarization measurements. Positive- and negative-parity states with energies up to 4580 keV and spins up to $\text{25}\text{2}$ have been established including 22 new levels. For two nanosecond isomeric states the nuclear spin precession in an external magnetic field was observed providing the following g-factors:

$\text{g(}\text{11?}\text{2}\text{, 959.7 keV)=1.14(9), g(}\text{15+}\text{2}\text{, 1898.3 keV)=1.00(7).}$

The experimental results are well understood by calculations which have been performed in the framework of the shell model (for positive-parity states of 11 valence protons above a Z = 50, N = 82 core) and of the cluster-vibration model (for 3 holes in a Z = 64, N = 82 core). In the case of positive-parity states no evidence for particle-core coupling could be found, while the negative-parity states could qualitatively be understood within the particle-core coupling picture.     

Decoupled bands in odd-mass mercury isotopes

The schemes of the low-lying high-spin states in mercury isotopes with A = 195, 197, and 199 have been studied by γ-ray spectroscopy following (α, xn) reactions on separated platinum targets. Two bands have been excited in each Hg nucleus, one with positive parity based on the isomeric i$\text{13}\text{2}$. state and one, probably with negative parity, starting at spin $\text{case21}\text{2}$. The positive-parity states are interpreted with the rotation-aligned coupling scheme as decoupled bands; this implies oblate deformation in these three Hg isotopes. The negative-parity states are discussed as a decoupled i$\text{13}\text{2}$ neutron state coupled to the 5^?, 7^?, 9^?,…states, recently discovered in doubly even mercury isotopes.     

Proton-neutron excitations in the high-spin states of 95Tc

The high-spin states of ⁹⁵Tc have been studied in the reaction ⁹³Nb(α, 2n)⁹⁵Tc using inbeam spectroscopy of both γ-rays and conversion electrons. A new sequence of negative-parity states extending up to angular momentum $\text{I =}\text{29}\text{2}$ was found to exist within an excitation energy interval of 4.1 MeV. The positive-parity states are in remarkable agreement with the predictions of a simplified shell-model approach on the basis of coupled excitations of $\text{g}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>9</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ proton and $\text{d}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>5</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$ as well as $\text{g}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>7</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ neutron configurations. A similar analysis for the negative-parity states shows qualitative agreement with the experimental results.     

The structure of 26Mg investigated with the (d,p) reaction

Angular distributions have been measured for the ²⁵Mg(d, p)²⁶Mg reaction at 13 MeV leading to excited states between E_x = 0 and 8 MeV. Experimental cross sections are compared with DWBA calculations and extended shell-model calculations in the full sd shell. Spin and parity restrictions are obtained for several levels in the region E_x = 6?;8 MeV. Spectroseopic factors for transitions to the lowest four positive-parity states of each spin are well reproduced by the shell-model calculations; however, in mixed configurations the largest component is systematically underestimated by the shell model. Only 60% of the strength for $\text{s}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ transfer is observed.     

Proton 1h112 excitations in odd-mass N = 82 nuclei

The structure of negative-parity states in odd-mass N= 82 isotones (135 ≦ A ≦ 145) is investigated in the framework of a model which is based on coupling one $\text{1h}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>11</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ proton to π = + 1 states of the appropriate doubly-even isotonic core. It is shown that an effective model-space truncation can be achieved if only core states in the vicinity of the yrast line are taken into account. These have been selected from the several hundreds or even thousands of states obtained from shell-model calculations, where the $\text{1g}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>7</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$, $\text{2d}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>5</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$, $\text{2d}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>3</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ and $\text{3s}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ single- are assumed to be occupied. Spectroscopic data are calculated and predictions on the structure of low-lying π = ? 1 states are discussed and compared as far as possible to experimental findings. Thereby, the particle-core coupling approach is shown to be capable of describing essential properties of negative-parity levels in the N = 82 nuclei considered.     

Four-nucleon transfer with the 32S(16O, 12C)36Ar reaction

Angular distributions have been measured for the ³²S(¹⁶O,¹²C)³⁶Ar reaction at 45.5 MeV leading to excited states between E_x, = 0 and 8 MeV. Experimental cross sections are compared with exact finite-range DWBA calculations in combination with extensive shell-model calculations, which include sd- and fp-shell configurations. Transitions to low-energy positive-parity states and bound negative-parity states are well reproduced. The calculations, however, fail to describe some high-energy positive-parity states. Calculations with a complete cluster expansion for the four transferred nucleons give about 50% larger cross sections, but can not explain the observed discrepancies. Possible interference of reaction processes other than direct α-transfer and special structure effects are discussed.     

Non-yrast level structure of135Pr

Levels of¹³⁵Pr populated in the (p,2n) reaction were studied using methods of in-beamγ-ray and conversion electron spectroscopy. Many low-lying positive-parity states give evidence of a deformation ofβ=0.15–0.20. The same conclusion is evident from band structures built on these positive-parity states and on theh _11/2 negative-parity state. The triaxial rotor-plus-particle model reproduces quite well band structures withβ=0.20 andγ= 21°.     

Gamma-spectroscopic investigations on 67Ge

By γ-γ coincidence measurements following the ⁵⁷Fe(¹²C, 2nγ) reaction at E_12C = 40 MeV several new states above 1.5 MeV excitation energy in ⁶⁷Ge have been established. Spin and parity assignments on the basis of the angular distribution, linear polarization and γ-ray yield function indicate very similar structures in ^{67, 69}Ge. The positive-parity states can be followed up to the $\text{17}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ state at E_x = 3.07 MeV followed by a sequence of negative-parity high-spin states at nearly the same excitation energy relative to the $\text{9}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ single-particle state as in the neighbouring nucleus ⁶⁹Ge where these states were found to have strong single-particle admixtures. A reinvestigation of the spin of the E_x = 2.75 MeV level in ⁶⁹Ge resulting in a change of its spin from $\text{15}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{to}\text{17}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ and for all spins above, removed the discrepancy concerning the spin assignments of corresponding levels in ^{67, 69}Ge. The excitation pattern of the Ge isotopes with 34 ≦ N ≦ 39 clearly indicate same structures probably due to the strong competition between collective and single-particle excitations along the whole chain similar to the results for the Zn isotopes.     

Yrast levels of 220Ra populated in the 208Pb(14C, 2n) reaction

Yrast states in the nucleus ²²⁰Ra were studied by means of the ²⁰⁸Pb(¹⁴C, 2n) reaction at 61 and 64 MeV. A staggering sequence of levels of positive and negative parity has been observed up to spin and parity I^π = 16⁺ (18 ⁺) and from I^π = 5^? to I^π = 17^?, respectively. These states are connected by strong E1 transitions competing with the stretched E2 transitions, the $\text{B(}\text{E}\text{1)}\text{B(}\text{E}\text{2)}$ ratio being ~ 10 ^?6 fm^?2. The ratio of the excitation energy of the 4⁺ state to that of the 2⁺ state is close to the vibrational limit. The moment of inertia associated with the negative-parity yrast states is slightly increasing with the rotational frequency ω. It is considerably higher than that of the positive-parity states at lower spins, the difference decreasing monotonically with increasing ω. The data are discussed with reference to the octupole vibrational picture as well as to the results of recent models predicting reflection-asymmetric shapes in the Ra-Th region.     

The structure of 113Sn from proton and alpha- particle induced reactions

The results of in-beam investigations of ¹¹³ Sn using the (p,n), (p,3n), (α,n) and (α,2n) reactions are summarized. Excited states have been identified until E _x = 4715 MeV and J ^π = (27/2^{t -}). For a large number of levels mean lifetimes τ have been determined with the DSA method. For the J ^k = 25/2⁺ state at E _x = 4059 MeV, τ = 1.0(4) ns has been measured with the γ-RF method. The experimental results are compared with the predictions of shell-model calculations. Most of the positive-parity states may be considered as one-or three-quasiparticle neutron excitations of the 2d_5/2, 1_g7/2, 3_s1/2 and 2d_3/2 shells, the negative-parity states as the coupling of one 1h_11/2 neutron to the two- or four-quasiparticle neutron excitations in the even-mass ¹¹²Sn core. For the 25/2⁺ isomer the three-quasiparticle neutron configuration ν(h ₁₁ ^2/2 g ₇ ^2/?1 ) has been proposed on the basis of a shell-model analysis using the mass-formula formalism. The experimentally observed yrast states in ₅₀ ¹¹³ Sn₆₃ are compared with the corresponding states in the valence mirror nucleus ₆₃ ¹⁴⁵ Eu82 giving remarkable similarities although the parameters for the shell-model calculations differ considerably. The analysis of nearest-neighbour spacing distributions of experimentally obtained 5/2⁺ states in ¹¹³Sn does not allow definite conclusions about regularity or chaos.     

Investigation of i132 excitations in 197Hg and 191Pt

The level schemes of the odd-neutron nuclei ¹⁹⁷Hg and ¹⁹¹Pt have been studied using in-beam spectroscopic methods. Energies, intensities, angular distributions and coincidences of the γ-rays following (α, 2n) reactions were measured. Also conversion electrons and delayed γ-ray spectra were recorded. Most of the levels in both nuclei are de-populated via the $\text{13}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ isomers. Besides the yrast states, several additional states with spin values between $\text{13}\text{2}$ and $\text{21}\text{2}$ were identified. The negative parity of a side band in ¹⁹⁷Hg starting with an $\text{f =}\text{21}\text{2}$ state was proved by the conversion electron measurement. The families of positive-parity states were compared with model calculations where the core was described as rigid triaxial rotor or anharmonic vibrator. For ¹⁹⁷Hg both models give similarly good results for the energy spectrum and the branching ratios of electromagnetic transitions. Several negative-parity states found in ¹⁹⁷Hg are compared with the predictions of a pairing-plus-quadrupole model.     

Structural connections between 148Sm and 149Sm nuclei

The ^{146, 148}Nd(α, χn) and ^{148, 150}Nd(³He, χn) reactions at E_α = 20–43 MeV and E_3He = 19–27 MeV, are used to study excited states in the ¹⁴⁹Sm₈₆ and ¹⁴⁹Sm₈₇ nucleides and consequently the low-spin odd-parity excitation. The mixing ratios and multipolarities of the most prominent transitions are deduced from the combined evidence of angular distribution and electron conversion data. The spin-parity assignments for most of the levels observed are established. In ¹⁴⁸Sm the ground state band extending to I^π = 10⁺ is predominantly populated. A negative-parity odd-spin band extending from I^π = 3^?through 11^? is also observed. The bands in ¹⁴⁸Sm are interpreted within the framework of the interacting boson approximation model. In ¹⁴⁹Sm positive-parity levels with spin up to $\text{25}\text{2}$ and negative-parity levels with spins up to $\text{21}\text{2}$ are observed. The predominant γ-decay proceeds via transitions associated with $\text{i}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>13</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$, $\text{h}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>9</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$, $\text{f}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>7</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ and $\text{h}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>11</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ intrinsic configurations. The branching ratios B(E1)/B(E2) are calculated and compared in both ¹⁴⁸Sm and ¹⁴⁹Sm nucleides. The B(E1)/B(E2) dependence on the value of Z for some N = 86 (as well as 88 and 84) isotones showing a minimum of Z = 64 was noted. A 4 ns high-spin isomer mainly decaying into the positive-parity band based on the $\text{i}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>13</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ state in ¹⁴⁹Sm is found. Experimental evidence is presented to interprete the $\text{1}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$, $\text{15}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$, … and $\text{9}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$, $\text{13}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$, …, ΔI = 2, sequences in ¹⁴⁹Sm as arising from the coupling of an $\text{h}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>9</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ neutron to the octupole and quadrupole modes of the ¹⁴⁸Sm core nucleus. The absolute reaction cross sections for the ^{146, 148, 150}Nd(³He, χn) reactions have been determined for different bombarding energies. The mixing of the $\text{f}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>7</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ and $\text{h}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>9</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ shells is discussed in the framework of an axial-particle-rotor model calculation.     

Five-dimensional quasispin and the spectra of odd-parity yrast configurations in the Ba region

The 5-dimensional quasispin formalism is used to evaluate the (n, T)-dependent factors of the matrix elements of abnormal parity operators of relevance for yrast-band spectroscopy. The formalism allows the leading pseudo-SU(3) representation of the normal (N) parity part of a shell-model configuration to be coupled to low-seniority states of the abnormal (A) parity high-j intruder part of the configuration. To illustrate the importance of the n_A, T_A dependence of the (A) to (N) space-coupling matrix elements this model is applied to the negative-parity yrast spectra of ¹²⁷La and ¹²⁷Ba, using hamiltonian parameters which give a reasonable fit for ¹²⁶Ba. The ¹²⁷La spectrum is reproduced with a seniority-one truncation of the h_{$\text{11}\text{2}$} configuration; the ¹²⁷Ba spectrum indicates a need for higher-seniority admixtures.     

Hexadecapole deformation in the wolfram nuclei

The (τ, α) and (d, t) reactions have been used to investigate the positive-parity intrinsic excitations in ^{179, 181, 183, 185}W stemming form the i_{$\text{13}\text{2}$} spherical shell-model state. The $\text{13}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ members of the rotational bands built on each of these orbitals are expected to be populated strongly in neutron-transfer reactions due to the near-unity values of the $\text{C}{}_{\mathrm{j}}\text{=}\text{13}\text{2}$ coefficients. These states were populated in the (τ, α) reaction which favours transfer of high angular momentum. The assignments of l-values were based on the measured ratio of (τ, α) to (d, t) cross sections populating the same state. The Nilsson model, with the inclusion of pairing and Coriolis mixing, was unable to account for the experimental results, namely the observation of all the expected strength localized in only two or four states below 2 MeV of excitation. Much better agreement with experiment was obtained if the extended Nilsson model including a hexadecapole deformation of ε₄ ≈ +0.06 was used as a starting point for a Coriolis-coupling calculation.     

Collective band structure in 66Zn

The collective nature of states in ⁶⁶Zn has been studied by carrying out a deformed configuration mixing shell model calculation in $\text{(1}\text{p}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>3</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{0}\text{f}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>5</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{1}\text{p}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{0}\text{g}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>9</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{)}$ model space. An effective interaction obtained for this space by Kuo has been used. The collective structure for 2 positive-parity bands and 5 negative-parity bands is identified. A qualitative understanding of the backbending at the J = 6⁺ state in the yrast positive-parity band is given in terms of the band crossing of the ground-state band and the more deformed excited band arising from 2p2h excitation to the $\text{g}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>9</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ orbit. Several high-spin members of the observed bands as well as in-band E2 transition strengths have been predicted.     

Two- and three-quasiparticle states in the interacting boson model and a unified description of even- and odd- mass Hg isotopes

The formalism of the interacting boson-fermion approximation is extended to include two- and three-quasiparticle states. This model is used in a systematic study of the high-spin states in even- and odd-mass ^189–198Hg isotopes. The positive-parity states in these nuclei are described by coupling $\text{i}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>13</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ neutron states to an O(6) core, which offers a simple and parameter-free test of the boson-fermion interaction. Good agreement is obtained between the recent experimental results and the calculated energies, transition rates and g-factors.