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.     

Electron capture decay of 245Bk (4.90 d) and 246Bk (1.80 d)

The electron capture decay schemes of ²⁴⁵Bk and ²⁴⁶Bk have been investigated by measuring the γ-ray and conversion-electron spectra of mass-separated ²⁴⁵Bk and ²⁴⁶Bk samples. The γ-ray spectra were measured with a 25 cm³ Ge(Li) spectrometer and the conversion-electron spectra were measured with a cooled Si (Li) detector. Multipolarities of most of the transitions in ²⁴⁵Cm and ²⁴⁶Cm were deduced. The half-lives of ²⁴⁵Bk and ²⁴⁶Bk were determined by following the decay of the 252.85 and 798.7 keV photopeaks and were found to be 4.90 ± 0.03 d and 1.80 ± 0.02 d, respectively. The α/(α+EC) ratio for the ²⁴⁵Bk decay was measured to be (1.2 ± 0.1) × 10^?3. On the basis of the present investigation the following non-rotational states were identified in ²⁴⁵Cm: $\text{7}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ [624], 0; $\text{5}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$[622], 252.85; $\text{1}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ 355.95; $\text{3}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$ vibrational, 633.65; and $\text{1}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$[620], 740.95 keV. The $\text{3}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$ state at 633.65 keV is int as a K_π = 2^? phonon coupled to the i$\text{7}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$[624] single-particle state. Our measurements of ²⁴⁶Bk γ-ray and conversion-electron energies and intensities confirm previous level assignments in ²⁴⁶Cm.     

Gyromagnetic ratios of excited states in 123, 125Te

The results of integral precession measurements are reported for $\text{3}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ and $\text{5}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ excited states in ^123,125Te. The measurements were made using the ion implantation perturbed angular correlation technique by recoiling the excited nuclei into polarized iron. The measured mean lifetimes and g-factors are: ${}^{123}\text{Te (440 keV,}\text{3}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{) τ = 39±4 ps, g = 0.34 ± 0.06}$; $\text{(505 keV,}\text{5}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{) τ = 26±3 ps, g = 0.04±0.025}$; and ${}^{125}\text{Te(443 keV,}\text{3}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{) ρ = 27±3.3 ps, g = 0.39±0.06}$; $\text{(464 keV,}\text{5}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{) g = 0.12±0.04}$. The results are compared with theoretical predictions.     

Alpha-decay of 39.3 h 254mEs isomer

Mass-separated samples of ^254mEs were used to investigate its α-decay scheme. Twelve α-groups were identified in a spectrum measured with the Argonne magnetic α-spectrometer. The favored α-transition populates a 211.8 keV level in ²⁵⁰Bk and four members of its rotational band were observed. A three-parameter α-γ time coincidence experiment showed that the 211.8 keV level decayed by three routes: two were prompt and one was delayed. The delayed γ-rays (50.07, 71.30, 90.7, 104.0, 126.0 and 175.7 keV) decayed with a 42±2ns half-life. The energies of the prompt γ-rays were 79.90, 96.3, 177.3 and 211.8 keV. From an α-ce^? coincidence experiment the multipolarity of the 211.8 keV transition was deduced to be E1. The α-branching was determined from an α-singles spectrum and was found to be 0.33±0.01%. From the results of the present investigation and the known properties of ²⁵⁰Bk and ^254mEs, the 211.8 keV state in ²⁵⁰Bk and the ^254mEs ground state were given $\text{{}\text{n}\text{[622]}\text{3}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{;}\text{p}\text{[633]}\text{7}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ assignment. Other levels in ²⁵⁰Bk were postulated at 104.0 (and its rotational member at 125.3), 131.9 and 175.3 keV and these were given tentative assignments of $\text{n}\text{[620]}\text{1}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{;}\text{p}\text{[521]}\text{3}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{1}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{,}\text{n}\text{[620]}\text{1}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{;}\text{p}\text{[633]}\text{7}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{3}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ and $\text{n}\text{[613]}\text{7}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{;}\text{p}\text{[633]}\text{7}\text{2}\text{O}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ (with I = 1), respectively. The splitting energies between the parallel and antiparallel coupled states were calculated with a Gaussian potential for the residual neutron-proton interaction and were found to be in agreement with the experimental values. A precise measurement of the energies and intensities of γ-rays and K X-rays associated with the ^254mEs β^? decay was also made. The Fm K_α2 and K_α1 energies were found to be 115.280±0.015 and 121.065±0.015 keV, respectively.     

Coulomb excitation of the even-mass selenium nuclei

The properties of the low-lying states of the doubly even selenium nuclei have been investigated via multiple Coulomb excitation effected with 39.2 MeV oxygen projectiles. The excitation probabilities of the first 2⁺ states of ⁷⁶Se, ⁷⁸Se and ⁸⁰Se have been determined directly by resolving inelastically and elastically scattered ⁴He projectiles on thin targets. These measurements yielded values of B(E2; 0⁺ → 2⁺) equal to $\text{0.421 ± 0.009 (}{}^{76}\text{Se}\text{), 0.321 ± 0.009 (}{}^{78}\text{Se}\text{)}\text{and}\text{0.248 ± 0.005 (}{}^{80}\text{Se}\text{) e}{}^2\text{· b}{}^2$. The multiple Coulomb excitation experiments enabled us to detect 2⁺ and 4⁺ levels in all isotopes studied up to 2.1 MeV. Moreover the double Coulomb excitation of 0⁺' states at 854.1 keV (⁷⁴Se), 1498.5 keV (⁷⁸Se), and 1478.3 keV (⁸⁰Se) was also observed. The enhancement of the E2 transition between these 0⁺' levels and the first 2⁺ states decreases rapidly with the increase of the neutron number, i.e., $\text{B(}\text{E}\text{2; 0}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{′ → 2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)/B(}\text{E}\text{2; 2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{→ 0}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{) = 2.04 ± 0.08 (}{}^{74}\text{Se}\text{), 0.91 ± 0.08 (}{}^{78}\text{Se),}\text{and}\text{0.28 ± 0.04 (}{}^{80}\text{Se}\text{)}$. States interpreted as the result of direct E3 Coulomb excitation have been observed at 2350.2, 2429.2, 2507.6, and 2717.6 keV in ⁷⁴Se, ⁷⁶Se, ⁷⁸Se and ⁸⁰Se, respectively. Their B(E3; 0⁺ → 3^?) values are $\text{2.1 ± 0.5 (}{}^{74}\text{Se}\text{), 4.0 ± 0.5 (}{}^{76}\text{Se}\text{), 2.7±0.3 (}{}^{78}\text{Se}\text{)}\text{and}\text{0.9 ± 0.2 ( × 10}{}^{\mathrm{?2}}\text{e}{}^2\text{·}\text{b}{}^3$ which represent enhancements of 9.2 ± 2.2, 16.6 ± 2.1, 10.8 ± 1.2 and 3.2 ± 0.7 respectively. Furthermore, angular distribution measurements of γ-rays following Coulomb excitation with 42 MeV ¹⁶O ions in ⁷⁸Se and ⁸⁰Se have been performed. The E2 content of the 2⁺' → 2⁺ transition in these two nuclei is 87.9 % (⁷⁸Se), and 96.2 % or 33.5 % (⁸⁰Se).     

Transitions,with change in parity,produced in 107,109Ag by coulomb excitation

Some of the low-lying energy levels of ¹⁰⁷Ag and ¹⁰⁹Ag were excited by Coulomb excitation using α-particles from 4.8 to 7.2 MeV. Transitions to the isomeric state ($\text{7}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$), involving a parity change, were observed both directly in the singles spectra and indirectly by the decay of the isomer. The isomer in both silver isotopes was populated by transitions from the $\text{5}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$ level, which was strongly excited. The observed branching ratio in ¹⁰⁹Ag for the $\text{5}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{→}\text{7}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ transition was (0.315 ± 0.09) % and for the $\text{5}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{→}\text{9}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ transition was (0.055±0.03) %. The total rate of populating the $\text{7}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ level from the $\text{5}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$ level was (0.215±0.04) % in ¹⁰⁷Ag. The level schemes have been discussed on the weak-coupling model, allowing admixtures of singleparticle wave functions to account for the weaker transitions.     

Coulomb excitation of 85Rb and 87Rb

Energy levels of ⁸⁵Rb and ⁸⁷Rb have been studied via de-excitation γ-rays following Coulomb excitation with ³⁵Cl ions. In addition to the known negative-parity states at 151.2 keV and 868.2 keV in ⁸⁵Rb, two states at 281.0 keV and 731.8 keV have been found with fourγ-ray transitions of 129.8, 281.0, 450.8 and 731.8 keV. Only one Coulomb excited state at 402.6 keV in ⁸⁷Rb has been observed. The B(E2↑) values (in units e² · b²) have been determined as 0.0035±0.0004 (151.2 keV), 0.0016±0.0002 (281.0 keV), 0.0101 ±0.0010 (731.8 keV), and 0.036±0.004 (868.2 keV) for the states in ⁸⁵Rb, and as 0.0054±0.0006 (402.6 keV) for the state in ⁸⁷Rb. The mean lifetimes of the 731.8 keV and 868.2 keV states have been measured by the Doppler shift attenuation method as 6.4±0.7 psec and 4.2±0.5 psec respectively. Angular distribution measurements allow unique spin and parity assignments of $\text{1}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$ and $\text{3}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$ to the 281.0 keV and 731.8 keV levels respectively. The spin and parity of the 868.2 keV level has been restricted to $\text{5}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$ or $\text{7}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$.     

The level structure of 184W FROM THE β− decay of 184Ta

Levels of ¹⁸⁴W populated in the decay of 8.7 h ¹⁸⁴Ta have been studied by a variety of experimental techniques. As a result of β and γ-ray energy and intensity determinations and extensive β-γ and γ-γ coincidence measurements, a detailed ¹⁸⁴Ta decay scheme accommodating more than 99.5% of the decay intensity has been established. Intense β-ray groups of end-point energies 1165±26 and 1123±26 keV populate levels in ¹⁸⁴W at 1699 and 1746 keV, which de-excite predominantly to the 8.3 μs isomeric level at 1285 keV, recently identified as the $\text{1}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{[510]ν?}\text{11}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{[615]ν K}{}^{\mathrm{\pi }}\text{= 5}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$ band origin. The 1699 keV level also de-excites to members of a $\text{1}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{[510]ν?}\text{7}\text{2}\text{[503]ν K}{}^{\mathrm{\pi }}\text{= 3}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ band based at 1425 keV. New information about the properties of the γ-vibrational and K = 2 octupole bands in ¹⁸⁴W is presented and the possible configurations of the levels directly populated in the β^? decay are discussed. The configuration $\text{7}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{[404]π ?}\text{3}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{[512]ν K}{}^{\mathrm{\pi }}\text{= 5}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$ is indicated for the ¹⁸⁴Ta ground state.     

Nuclear structure studies of 97Ru from the decay of 97g,mRh

The energy levels of ⁹⁷Ru have been studied through the decay of 31.1 min ^97gRh and 44.3 min ^97mRh using Ge(Li), Si(Li), Nal, plastic and anthracene detectors in singles and in coincidence experiments. A total of 139 γ-rays were observed. Ninety-eight γ-rays have been placed into the decay schemes involving 38 excited levels in ⁹⁷Ru. The level energy of ^97mRh was determined to be 258.6 keV. The spin and parity of ^97gRh and ^97mRh are assigned as $\text{9}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{and}\text{1}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$, respectively. The fraction of decay of the isomer by the isomeric transition was measured with the Si(Li) detector, and α_k values were determined for strong transitions. The half-life of the 188.6 keV, $\text{3}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ state in ⁹⁷Ru was determined as 0.23 ± 0.02 ns by delayed e-γ coincidence measurements. The nuclear structure of low-lying levels is compared with similar levels in other odd-mass nuclei (N = 53) isotones and Ru isotopes).     

Nanosecond lifetimes of the low-spin states in the nucleus 147Nd: A particle-rotor model interpretation of the results

Nanosecond lifetimes of several states in ¹⁴⁷Nd have been studied using the reaction ¹⁴⁶Nd(d, pγ)¹⁴⁷Nd with 10 MeV deuterons. The following lifetimes were observed: the $\text{7}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$ level at 49.9 keV, 2.5±0.5 ns; the $\text{5}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$ level at 127.9 keV, ≦ 0.8 ns; the $\text{9}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$ level at 190.3 keV, 1.1±0.3 ns and the $\text{1}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$ level at 214.6 keV, 5.8±0.8 ns. The wave functions of the states were constructed using an axial particle-plus-rotor model. The free parameters used are compared to the systematics observed in the neighbouring heavier N = 87 isotones as well as in the N = 89 and 91 isotones. Transition rates within the $\text{f}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>7</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ and $\text{h}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>9</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ based excitations, separately, are reasonably well reproduced, but the connecting transitions indicate too strong a mixing of the shells in the calculation.     

High spin states in 57Co

High spin states of ⁵⁷Co have been studied via prompt γ-ray spectroscopy in the reactions ⁴⁸Ti(¹²C, p2n) and ⁵⁴Fe(α, p) at 26–48 MeV and 12–24 MeV, respectively. The energies and decay modes of these levels were determined from the analysis of γ-ray singles and γ-γ coincidence spectra, excitation functions, angular distributions and correlations. The relevant lifetimes were measured by the Doppler-shift attenuation method. The new levels established in this work are at 4037, 4814 and 5918 keV with the most probable J^π assignment of $\text{15}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$, if $\text{17}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$ and $\text{19}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$, respectively. The previously known level at 2524 keV was assigned to have $\text{J}{}^{\mathrm{\pi }}\text{=}\text{13}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$. These together with the known $\text{9}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$(1224 keV) and $\text{11}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$(1690 keV) levels constitute the yrast states of ⁵⁷Co. The measured lifetimes of the above six levels are (in order of increasing energies) 0.085±0.030, 0.32±0.10, 0.16±0.06, 0.10_?0.07^+0.06, 1.5_?0.5⁴ and 0.17_?0.07^+0.08 ps, respectively. Comparisons with some theoretical calculations are presented.     

Measurement of the decay ϒ′→ϒπ+π−

We report the first observation of the decay $\text{?′→?π}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{π}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{→}\text{l}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{l}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{π}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{π}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$. The 7 events seen yield a branching ratio B(?′→?π⁺π^?)=(19±8)%. A consistent value of B=(26±13)% is obtained from the charged multiplicities of the ?′ and ? decays. Using these values we deduce Γ_tot(?′)=(31⁺¹⁰_?8) keV and B_ee(?′)=(1.8±0.5)%. Furthermore we estimate Γ(?′→gg?)=(10±5) keV in agreement with QCD predictions using vector gluons while one would expect 100 keV with scalar gluons.     

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.     

Nuclear orientation of negative parity states of 131Xe

The anisotropies of the 177, 326, and 503 keV γ-transitions between negative parity states of ¹³¹Xe have been remeasured in the decay of oriented ¹³¹I nuclei. In addition the linear polarization of the 503 keV radiation has been determined with a Compton polarimeter consisting of two Ge(Li) detectors. A combined analysis of the reported experiment and earlier internal conversion and angular distribution data yields the unique assignments $\text{9}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{and}\text{7}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$ for the levels at 341 and 667 keV. The $\text{E2}\text{M1}$ mixing ratios of the 177 and 326 keV transitions are δ(177) = ?4.5 ± 1.5 and δ(326) = ?4.4 ± 1.6. The intensity of the L = 2 component in the first forbidden β-decay to the 667 keV level is at most 60 %.     

Decay of the mirror nuclide 45V

The β⁺ decay of ⁴⁵V $\text{(J}{}^{\mathrm{\pi }}\text{, T=}\text{7}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{,}\text{1}\text{2}\text{)}$ has been observed. The half-life was found to be 539 ± 18 ms; in addition to the superallowed transition to the mirror state (⁴⁵Ti ground state), it exhibits a (4.3 ± 1.5)% allowed branch to the $\text{5}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$ state at 40.1 keV in ⁴⁵Ti. Decay data for the complete $\text{f}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>7</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ shell series of mirror nuclei are presented.     

Angular correlation study of the levels of 97Nb populated in the decay of 97Zr

The level structure of ⁹⁷Nb has been studied by measuring angular correlations of γ-rays emitted in the decay of ⁹⁷Zr. The cascades measured were (energies in keV): 355–1750, 355-(602)-1148, 254-(703)-1148, 602–1148 and 703–1148. The deduced correlations permit unique spin-parity assignments to be made for the levels at $\text{1148 (}\text{7}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{), 1750 (}\text{5}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)}\text{and}\text{1852 (}\text{5}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)}\text{keV}$. Multipole mixing ratios have been deduced for the 254, 355, 602, 703 and 1148 keV transitions.     

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.     

Lifetimes of low-lying states in 19F

Lifetimes of low-lying states in ¹⁹F were measured using the Doppler-shift attenuation method through the ¹⁵N(α, γ)¹⁹F reaction. Values of τ_m = 3700 ± 700 fs (1.35 MeV), 140 ± 15 (1.46), 19 ± 7 (4.00) and 63 ± 19 (4.03) were obtained for the lowest $\text{5}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$, $\text{3}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$, $\text{7}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$ and $\text{9}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$ members, respectively, of the $\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{\pi }}\text{=}\text{1}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$ rotational band and 5 ± 3 fs (1.55 MeV) and 370 ± 25 (2.78) for the $\text{3}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ and $\text{9}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ members of the $\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{\pi }}\text{=}\text{1}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ ground-state band. For the Doppler-shift attenuation analysis correction factors of the nuclear and electronic stopping powers were determined by measuring the Doppler-shift attenuation and γ-ray line shape of the 2.78 → 0.20 MeV transition and range values of 100, 200. 300 and 370 keV ¹⁹F nuclei in tantalum. All calculations were done with Monte Carlo methods. The transition strengths are discussed in terms of different theoretical predictions.     

Beta decay of 23Mg and 27Si

The β-decays of ²³Mg and ²⁷Si have been studied by observing the delayed γ-radiation. The following branches (and log ft values) have been found for ${}^{23}\text{Mg}\text{(β}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)}{}^{23}\text{Na}\text{: 0}\text{keV}\text{, 0.914 ± 0.002 (3.67); 440}\text{keV}\text{, 0.086 ± 0.002 (4.40);}\text{and}\text{2391}\text{keVa}\text{(6.9 ± 0.9) × 10}{}^{\mathrm{?5}}\text{(4.98);}\text{and for}{}^{27}\text{Si}\text{(β}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)}{}^{27}\text{Al}\text{: 0}\text{keV}\text{, 0.9977 ± 0.0002 (3.61); 1014}\text{keV}\text{, (4.9 ± 2.4) × 10}{}^{\mathrm{?5}}\text{(7.3); 2211}\text{keV}\text{, (1.80 ± 0.13) × 10}{}^{\mathrm{?3}}\text{(4.68); 2734}\text{keV}\text{, (1.55 ± 0.17) × 10}{}^{\mathrm{?4}}\text{(5.02);}\text{and}\text{2981}\text{keV}\text{, (2.59 ± 0.24) × 10}{}^{\mathrm{?4}}\text{(4.33)}$. The branches to the 2391 keV level from the ²³Mg decay and to the 2734 keV level from the ²⁷Si decay have not been previously reported. A comparison is made between the experimental results and the predictions of the many-particle shell model.     

Neutron resonance parameters and radiative capture cross sections of 147Sm and 149Sm

Neutron capture and transmission measurements have been carried out on the separated isotopes of ¹⁴⁷Sm (98.34 %) and ¹⁴⁹Sm (97.72 %) at the 55 m time-of-flight station of the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute electron linear accelerator. Resonance energies and neutron widths for a large number of resolved resonances were determined up to 2 keV for ¹⁴⁷Sm and 520 eV for ¹⁴⁹Sm. Radiation widths for 5 resonances in ¹⁴⁷Sm + n and 7 resonances in ¹⁴⁹Sm + n were derived. The s-wave strength functions, average level spacings and average radiation widths were obtained to be: $\text{10}{}^4\text{S}{}_0\text{= 4.8 ± 0.5,}\text{D}\text{= 5.7 ± 0.5}\text{eV}$ and $\text{Γ}{}_{\mathrm{\gamma }}\text{= 69 ± 2}\text{meV for}{}^{147}\text{Sm}$; a $\text{10}{}^4\text{S}{}_0\text{= 4.6 ± 0.6,}\text{D}\text{= 2.2 ± 0.2}\text{eV}$ and $\text{Γ}{}_{\mathrm{\gamma }}\text{= 62 ± 2}\text{meV for}{}^{149}\text{Sm}$. The average capture cr sections were deduced from 3.3 to 300 keV with an estimated accuracy of 5 to 15 %. The measured capture cross sections for ¹⁴⁹Sm are largely different from the evaluated data, which are obtained based on the statistical model calculation. Possible reasons for this disagreement are discussed.