The decay of 4 min 158Tm

The decay of 4 min ¹⁵⁸Tm has been investigated with on-line mass-separated samples obtained from the Orsay ISOCELE separator. Measurements of γ-rays, conversion electron lines and γ-γ bi-dimensional coincidences were performed. About 180 transitions were ascribed to the decay and two thirds of them were placed in a decay scheme. The β-band and the γ-band were identified with bandheads situated at 806.40 and 820.13 keV respectively. In addition, a number of other vibrational bands (β-γ, β-β, K^π = 0^? and 1^?) are proposed. The decay properties of those bands are discussed in the framework of current nuclear models. The log ft values suggest a 2^? assignment for ¹⁵⁸Tm with the possible configuration (p404J↓-n521↑).     

The decay of 159Tm (9.0 min) to 159Er

The decay of ¹⁵⁹Tm ($\text{T}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{= 9.0±0.4min}$) has been investigated with Ge(Li) andSi(Li) detectors, B-spectrographs and a toroidal spectrometer using isotopically separated samples produced by the YASNAPP facility at Dubna. The singles γ-ray spectrum, the conversion electron spectrum, the positron spectrum, prompt and delayed γ-γ coincidences were measured. Using strong thulium activities, conversion electrons were also measured with high resolution b-spectrographs. In the ¹⁵⁹Tm decay 81 new γ-ray transitions were observed. A decay scheme of ¹⁵⁹Tm is proposed involving 12 excited states in ¹⁵⁹Er. The first members of the rotational bands $\text{3}\text{2}$^?[521], $\text{5}\text{2}$^?[523], $\text{3}\text{2}$⁺[402 + 651], $\text{11}\text{2}$^?505 and $\text{7}\text{2}$^?[514] and the $\text{5}\text{2}$, $\text{7}\text{2}$ and $\text{9}\text{2}$ states of a strongly perturbed positive parity band were identified. The Q-value of ¹⁵⁹Tm was determined to be 3.4±0.3 MeV.     

The decay of 174Tm and mixing of the Kπ = 5− two-quasiparticle states in 174Yb

The decay of 5.4 min ¹⁷⁴Tm has been investigated using Ge(Li) spectrometers in singles and coincidence measurements. A total of 43 γ-ray transitions, 26 of them not reported before, have been observed following the decay of ¹⁷⁴Tm. All transitions could be placed in a level scheme comprising 19 excited states of ¹⁷⁴Yb. The Nilsson model has been used to interpret the level structure. The mixing of two-quasineutron and two-quasiproton states is studied and the experimental mixing matrix element is compared with the results of theoretical calculations.     

The decays of 21.55 min 162gTm and 24.3 s 162Tm (a new isomer)

The decay of the 21.55 min ground state and of the 24.3 s isomeric state of ¹⁶²Tm was investigated with semiconductor detectors. The γ-ray spectrum was investigated with a Compton-suppression Ge(Li)-NaI(Tl) arrangement. A Si (Li) detector, mounted in an electron transport solenoid, was used to investigate the conversion electron spectrum. Three-dimensional coincidence measurements were performed with large-volume Ge(Li) detectors. The ¹⁶²Tm ground state has spin-parity 1^? and Nilsson assignment p[411]↓?n[521]↑. An allowed β-transition (log ft ≈ 6.4) was observed to a 2^?, 2 octupole vibrational level at 1572.84 keV. The Q-value determined from positon-gamma coincidence measurements is 4705 ± 70keV. The discrepancy of the experimental K /β⁺ ratio with theoretical predictions might possibly be explained by a large number of unobserved weak γ-rays besides the total of 315 stronger ones observed in this study. The average β-strength function was calculated to be 1.2 × 10^?5. Among the 50 levels observed in the decay, the 2⁺, 4⁺ and 6⁺ members of the ground-state band, the 2⁺, 3⁺ and 4⁺ members of the γ-band, several 0⁺ and 2⁺ members of the K = 0 β-bands and 1^?, 2^? and 3^? octupole vibrational levels were identified. Parameter values Z_γ(0) and Z_γ(2) determining the mixing between the γ-band and the ground-state band, allow no conclusive evidence about unequalness of the intrinsic quadrupole moments of the ground states and the γ-band. The Z(0) parameters, determining the mixing between the β-bands and the ground-state band, and X parameters determining the ratio of E0 to E2 transition probabilities, were deduced. A previously unreported 24.3 sec isomer in ¹⁶²Tm was observed to decay in 10% of the cases by an allowed unhindered (log ft = 4.7) β-ray transition to a level at 1712.20 keV in ¹⁶²Er. The Nilsson configurations assigned to the isomeric and 1712.20 keV levels are p[523]↑ + n[521]↑₅₊ and n[523]↓ + n[521]↑₄₊ respectively. The isomeric level decays in 90% of the cases by an E3 transition (E_IT < 125 keV) to a p[404]↓ ?n[521]↑_2? level at 66.90 keV in ¹⁶²Tm, which decays by an (M1+ < 40 % E2) to the 21.55 min ¹⁶²Tm 1^? ground state.     

The decay properties of 3.25 min 169Hf and 2.05 min 167Hf

The decays of 3.25 min ¹⁶⁹Hf and 2.05 min ¹⁶⁷Hf have been studied with high-resolution Ge(Li) and Si(Li) detectors. The total decay energy of ¹⁶⁹Hf determined from our experimental $\text{K}\text{β}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ ratio is 3.29^+0.05_?0.13 MeV. The allowed unhindered character of the main β-branches in the decay of both isotopes allows unique Nilsson model assignments.     

Levels in 44Ca excited by the β-decay of 44K

The β-decay of 22 min ⁴⁴K has been re-investigated with a Ge(Li) spectrometer of improved resolution and efficiency. A total of 58 γ-rays has been assigned to the decay of ⁴⁴K. Of these 53 have been incorporated into a revised decay scheme containing 20 excited states. The ⁴⁴K half-life was determined to be 22.15 ± 0.20 min.     

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.     

Levels and transitions in 131Xe studied by the decay of oriented 131I

Sources of ¹³¹I were prepared by implantation in iron foils. Nuclear orientation of these sources was obtained by cooling them to temperatures of 30 to 50 mK using a dilution refrigerator and saturating the iron by an external magnetic field. Anisotropies of angular distributions of eleven γ-transitions in ¹³¹Xe have been measured, yielding the following results: the levels at 405 and 637 keV are $\text{3}\text{2}$⁽⁺⁾ and $\text{7}\text{2}$⁽⁺⁾ states and the assignment $\text{5}\text{2}$⁽⁺⁾ for the level a keV is confirmed. Deduced values of E2/M1 multipole mixing ratios are (energies in keV): ?0.5 ≦ δ(318) ≦ + 0.2; δ(364) = ?4.53±0.12; + 0.2 ≦ δ(405) ≦ +2.0; δ(723) = +0.207 ± 0.005. The allowed β-decay branch to the level at 637 keV is for at least 90% of the Gamow- Teller type.     

Levels and transition probabilities in 124In as observed in the decay of 124Cd

The levels of ¹²⁴In, which are populated in the decay of ¹²⁴Cd, have been investigated at the OSIRIS on-line facility by means of conversion electron and γ-ray spectroscopy. A γ-γ coincidence measurement combined with the deduced transition intensities permitted construction of a unique level scheme. The half-life of the 243 keV level of ¹²⁴In has been determined to be 50 ± 6 ns by the method of delayed coincidences.     

Electromagnetic decay of excited 0+ states in 64, 66, 68Zn

The E0 and E2 transitions depopulating the excited 0⁺ states in ^64,66,68Zn are investigated. Several methods of γ-ray, conversion-electron and internal-pair spectrometry are employed, including a new time measurement technique. A total of 5 E0 transitions are observed and the monopole strengths ρ²(0_i⁺ → 0_i⁺) for most of them are extracted. The results and the nature of the excited 0⁺ states are discussed in terms of several nuclear models.     

On the decay of 201Bi and 199Bi

Level schemes for ²⁰¹Pb and ¹⁹⁹Pb, studied from the radioactive decay of bismuth isobars, are proposed on the basis of γ-ray, electron spectra and γ-γ coincidence measurements. The experimental results are compared mainly with those of two theoretical approaches.     

Nuclear orientation study of the excited states of 129I populated in the decay of 129gTe and 129mTe

From the angular distributions of γ-rays emitted by oriented ^129gTe and ^129mTe nuclei implanted in iron by isotope separator, unique spin assignments could be made for the excited states of ¹²⁹I at 487.4 keV $\text{(}\text{5}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)}$, 696.0 keV $\text{(}\text{11}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)}$, 729.6 keV $\text{(}\text{9}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)}$, 768.9 keV $\text{(}\text{7}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)}$, 1050.4 keV $\text{(}\text{7}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)}$ and 1111.8 keV $\text{(}\text{5}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)}$. In addition, E2/M1 amplitude ratios for the following ¹²⁹I γ-rays (energies are in keV) are derived: δ(459.6) = ?(0.076^+0.037_?0.148); δ(487.4) = 0.50^+0.17_?0.10 or δ^? = 0.35^+0.15_?0.09; δ(556.7) = 0.06±0.02 or δ^? = ?(0.10±0.02); δ(624.4) = 0.10±0.26 or δ^? > 0.4; the 696.0 keV γ-ray is pure E2; δ(729.6) = ?(0.34±0.06) or δ^?1 = 0.55±0.05; δ(741.1) = ?(0.27±0.10) or δ^?1 = ?(0.43±0.12); δ(817.2) = 0.46±0.04 or δ^?1 =0.20±0.03 if $\text{I}{}^{\mathrm{\pi }}\text{(845}\text{keV}\text{) =}\text{7}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$; δ(1022.6) = ?(0.02 ±0.02) or δ^?1 = ?(0.23±0.02); $\text{δ(1084) = 0.56}{}^{\mathrm{+0.04}}{}_{\mathrm{?0.14}}$; δ(1111.8) = 0.06±0.05 or δ^?1 = ?(0.08±0.05). The anisotropy of the 531.8 keV γ-ray excludes $\text{1}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ as a possible spin assignment for the 559.6 keV level, so that no $\text{1}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ level is fed in the decay from ¹²⁹Te. Anisotropies for the 209, 250.7, 278.4 and 281.1 keV γ-rays are also measured. Comparison of the level scheme is made with theoretical predictions from both the pairing-plus-quadrupole model and the intermediate coupling unified model.     

Gamma transitions in 59Ni following the β+ decay of 59Cu

The γ-ray decay spectrum of 82 s ⁵⁹Cu produced by the ⁵⁸Ni(p, γ) ⁵⁹Cu reaction has been studied with a 40 cm³ Ge(Li) detector. The number of γ-rays now known for this decay has more than doubled. Additional direct β⁺ branches to the 1679.7($\text{5}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$), 2414.8($\text{3}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$) and 2681 keV states of ⁵⁹Ni have been identified with log ft values of 5.5, 5.5 and 6.0, respectively. A major change is the reassignment of the 1340.4 keV γ-ray to a 1679.7 → 339.3 keV transition. A limit of log $\text{ft ≧ 6.9}$ is given for the direct feeding of the 1337($\text{7}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$) keV state, together with limits for direct population of other energetically available states. The new weak γ-ray branches found for the 878.0, 1301.5 and 1679.7 keV levels are in excellent agreement with the recent theoretical calculations of Glaudemans et al.     

The β− decay of 102Mo

The ¹⁰²Mo activity was obtained by photofission of natural U and thermal-neutron induced fission of ²³⁵U, with subsequent chemical separation of the molybdenum fraction. In addition, nuclei with mass 102 were separated from fission products of ²³⁵U(n_th, f) using the mass separator LOHENGRIN. A decay scheme and absolute γ-intensities are deduced from measured γ-ray, X-ray and γ-coincidence spectra. Logftvalues are calculated. Shell-model calculations for a $\text{(πlg}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>9</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{)}{}^3$$\text{(νlg}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>7</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{)}{}^3$ multiplet have been carried out using effective nucleon-nucleon interactions. The γ-decay between low-lying, low-spin members of this multiplet was studied in detail and compared with the experimental data.     

Decay of 59.3 min 128Sn to levels of 128Sb

The γ-ray spectra associated with the decay of 59.3 min ¹²⁸Sn have been measured with Ge(Li) detectors. In order to recognize γ-rays of ¹²⁸Sn and ^128mSb, the decay and/or growth of γ-rays emitted from a tin sample separated chemically from fission products were measured. The decay of ¹²⁸Sn is followed by the intense Sb X-rays and 32.1, 45.8, 75.1, 80.9, 115.9, 152.6, 404.4, 482.3, 557.3 and 680.2 keV γ-rays. On the basis of the measured singles and γ-γ coincidence spectra and the analysis of intensities of true sum peaks, a new decay scheme has been constructed. The 10.0 min isomer in ¹²⁸Sb decays by β-emission (96.4%) to excited levels in ¹²⁸Te and by an isomeric transition (3.6 %) to the 9.1 h ground state.     

Lifetimes and structures of some levels above 1.5 MeV in 168Yb, 164Er and 158, 160, 162Dy

The following lifetime measurements have been performed in ¹⁶⁸Yb: 62 ns (7^?, 2222.5 keV), 0.34ns (6^?, 2111.1 keV), 81.7 ns (5^?, 1998.7 keV), ≦ 0.14 ns (4⁺, 2203.8 keV); in ¹⁶⁴Er: 23.3 ns (7^?, 1985.0 keV), 0.22 ns (6^?, 1744.4 keV), ≦ 0.08 ns (5^?, 1664.2 keV); in ¹⁵⁸Dy: ≦ 0.11 ns (4⁺, 1895.3 keV); in ¹⁶⁰Dy: 0.18 ns (4⁺, 1694.0 keV); in ¹⁶²Dy: 1.93 ns (5^?, 1485.9 keV). The experimental reduced transition probabilities are discussed in the framework of current nuclear models.     

The decay of 44Sc

The 3.9 h decay of the ⁴⁴Sc ground state has been investigated with a ⁴⁴Ti source. In a singles experiment with a Ge(Li) detector and a γ-γ coincidence experiment with a NaI(Tl)-Ge(Li) detector arrangement a (0.010 ± 0.002)% EC branch to the 3.30 MeV level of ⁴⁴Ca has been found. The γ-decay branching ratio of the 3.30 MeV level has been determined.     

Beta decay of 28P

The β⁺ decay of ²⁸P has been studied with a Ge(Li)-NaI(Tl) escape-suppression spectrometer. The number of ²⁸Si γ-transitions observed following ²⁸P decay has been increased from 15 to 34. New β⁺ branches were observed to ²⁸Si levels at 7416, 9796 and 10209 keV and sharper limits were placed on unobserved gb⁺ transitions.     

The decay of 101Ag

The decay of ¹⁰¹Ag have been studied using β- and γ-spectrometers in singles and coincidence modes. A half-life of 11.4 ± 0.3 min was obtained and a decay scheme was proposed. The first excited state was established at 80.3 keV and a half-life of 4.8 ± 0.5 ns was suggested. The resultant level structure of ¹⁰¹Pd is compared to a theoretical calculation with strong band mixing.     

The decay of 235U

Twenty-eight γ-rays, ten of which are reported for the first time, have been observed in the decay of ²³⁵U, and all have been placed in a revised level scheme for ²³¹Th. Three new levels at 390.27, 317.42 and 240.82 keV respectively have been proposed and the data are in accord with he results of coincidence studies. Reduced transition probabilities of inter-band γ-ray transitions are calculated from the data and compared with theory and an estimate of the intrinsic quadrupole moment, Q_O has been computed.