Search for superheavy hydrogen isotopes <Superscript>6</Superscript>H and <Superscript>7</Superscript>H in stopped π-absorption reactions

Experimental search for superheavy hydrogen isotopes ⁶H and ⁷H was performed in the stopped pion absorption on ⁹Be and ¹¹B nuclei. The structures in the missing-mass spectra were observed in the reaction channels ⁹Be(π^-, pd )X and ¹¹B(π^-, p⁴He)X . Four states of ⁶H were proposed. Evidences for ⁷H formation were obtained in the reaction channels ⁹Be(π^-, pp)X and ¹¹B(π^-, p³He)X .     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Low-lying intrinsic structures in <Superscript>254</Superscript>Es

Low-lying two-quasiparticle bandhead energies for the Z = 99 odd-odd nucleus ²⁵⁴Es are evaluated using a simple phenomenological model with the inclusion of the residual p-n interaction. Configurations of the intrinsic levels directly fed in ²⁵⁴Es from the parent ²⁵⁸Md are discussed in the light of this model. Our analysis predicts the occurrence of ten K≤5 bandheads in ²⁵⁴Es with excitation energies E _x≤300keV. Structures of these as yet unidentified low-lying intrinsic levels and their expected locations are discussed in the light of available experimental information.     

First observation of medium-spin excitations in the <Superscript>138</Superscript>Cs nucleus

The Penning trap mass spectrometer JYFLTRAP, coupled to the Ion Guide Isotope Separator On-Line (IGISOL) facility at Jyv?skyl?, was employed to measure the atomic masses of neutron-rich ^70-73Ni and ^{73, 75}Cu isotopes with a typical accuracy less than 5keV. The mass of ⁷³Ni was measured for the first time. Comparisons with the previous data are discussed. Two-neutron separation energies show a weak subshell closure at ⁶⁸ ₂₈Ni₄₀ . A well established proton shell gap is observed at Z = 28 .     

Nuclear quadrupole moments of 5/2<Superscript>-</Superscript> and 9/2<Superscript>-</Superscript> states in <Superscript>169</Superscript>Ta

The nuclear spectroscopic quadrupole moments for the πh_9/25/2^-, 1/2^-[541] and the πh_11/29/2^-, 9/2^-[514] isomeric states in ¹⁶⁹Ta have been measured employing the time differential perturbed angular-distribution technique following the nuclear reaction ¹⁵⁹Tb(¹⁶O, 6nγ)¹⁶⁹Ta at beam energy 104 MeV. The ratio of the intrinsic quadrupole moments has been derived as 1.87(13) from the measured quadrupole precession frequencies of the corresponding states. The model-independent analysis of the equilibrium deformation indicates strong prolate- and oblate-driving nature of the 1/2^-[541] and 9/2^-[514] orbitals in ^169,171Ta isotopes, respectively.     

Effects of phonon-phonon coupling on low-lying states in neutron-rich Sn isotopes

Starting from an effective Skyrme interaction we present a method to take into account the coupling between one- and two-phonon terms in the wave functions of excited states. The approach is a development of a finite rank separable approximation for the quasiparticle RPA calculations proposed in our previous work. The influence of the phonon-phonon coupling on energies and transition probabilities for the low-lying quadrupole and octupole states in the neutron-rich Sn isotopes is studied.     

Nuclear deformation and the two-neutrino double- β decay in <Superscript>124, 126</Superscript>Xe , <Superscript>128, 130</Superscript>Te , <Superscript>130, 132</Superscript>Ba and <Superscript>150</Superscript>Nd isotopes

The two-neutrino double-beta decay of ^{124, 126}Xe , ^{128, 130}Te , ^{130, 132}Ba and ¹⁵⁰Nd isotopes is studied in the Projected Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov (PHFB) model. Theoretical 2ν β^-β^- half-lives of ^{128, 130}Te , and ¹⁵⁰Nd isotopes, and 2ν β⁺β⁺ , 2ν β⁺ EC and 2ν ECEC for ^{124, 126}Xe and ^{130, 132}Ba nuclei are presented. Calculated quadrupolar transition probabilities B(E2 : 0⁺ → 2⁺) , static quadrupole moments and g -factors in the parent and daughter nuclei reproduce the experimental information, validating the reliability of the model wave functions. The anticorrelation between nuclear deformation and the nuclear transition matrix element M _2ν is confirmed.     

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.     

Stable collective triaxial rotation in <Superscript>77</Superscript>Kr

Based on the γ -spectroscopic analysis of G.N. Sylvan et al., configuration-dependent cranked Nilsson-Strutinsky calculations have been performed. They describe the nucleus ⁷⁷Kr globally in good agreement with the experimental findings and the expectations derived from single-particle orbitals in a deformed potential. Within these calculations, the unambiguous assignment of a configuration with three protons and five neutrons in the g _9/2 shell to the high-spin Yrast states of negative parity indicates that the nucleus ⁷⁷Kr has stable triaxial deformation and rotates about the intermediate axis. This not only disproves the recent interpretation of an occupation of the d _5/2 orbital being responsible for the strong deformation in this band, but also represents one of the first examples in this mass region for such a rotation.     

Super-allowed α decay above doubly-magic <Superscript>100</Superscript>Sn and properties of <Superscript>104</Superscript>Te = <Superscript>100</Superscript>Sn ⊗ α

α-decay half-lives for ^{104, 105, 106}Te and ^{108, 109, 110}Xe close above the doubly-magic ¹⁰⁰Sn are calculated from systematic double-folding potentials. The derived α preformation factors are compared to results for ^{212, 213, 214}Po and ^{216, 217, 218}Rn above the doubly-magic ²⁰⁸Pb. α-decay energies of Q _α = 5.42±0.07MeV and 4.65±0.15MeV are predicted for ¹⁰⁴Te and ¹⁰⁸Xe; the corresponding half-lives are T _1/2 ≈ 5ns for ¹⁰⁴Te and of the order of 60μs for ¹⁰⁸Xe. Additionally, the properties of rotational bands in ¹⁰⁴Te are analyzed, and the first excited 2⁺ state in ¹⁰⁴Te is predicted at E _x = 650±40keV; it decays preferentially by γ emission with a reduced transition strength of 10 Weisskopf units to the ground state of ¹⁰⁴Te and with a minor branch by α emission to the ground state of ¹⁰⁰Sn.     

High-spin states and band structures in the doubly odd <Superscript>136</Superscript>La nucleus

High-spin states of ¹³⁶La have been investigated with the reaction ¹³⁰Te( ¹¹B, 5n) at a beam energy of 60 MeV. The level scheme with three collective bands has been updated with spin up to 20 . The observed h_11/2 h_11/2 band shows -instability with increasing spin according to the TRS calculations. The band crossing and the signature splitting and inversion have been discussed. Other two collective bands based on 12^-and 16⁺ levels were proposed as oblate deformation with -60^°. They most probably originate from four- and six-quasiparticle configurations, that is, h_11/2 g_7/2h_11/2² and g_7/2 g_7/2²d_5/2h_11/2² respectively.     

Spectroscopy of <Superscript>17</Superscript>C and (sd )<Superscript>3</Superscript> structures in heavy carbon isotopes

The structure of ¹⁷C has been investigated using the three-neutron transfer reaction (¹²C,⁹C) on a ¹⁴C target at 231MeV incident energy, the reaction Q-value is Q ₀ = - 46.930MeV. Eleven new states up to 16.3MeV excitation energy were identified. The same reaction has also been used on a ¹²C target ( Q ₀ = - 38.787MeV), and excited states in ¹⁵C up to 19MeV were observed. In ¹⁷C the three transferred neutrons populate (sd )³ configurations on the ¹⁴C core. The comparison of levels populated by the (¹²C,⁹C) reaction in ¹⁷C, ¹⁶C and ¹⁵C reveals a strong similarity of their properties. This concerns especially nine states in each of the three carbon isotopes, which show practically the same excitation energies except a constant mean shift of +5.82MeV for ¹⁶C and +6.65MeV for ¹⁵C with respect to ¹⁷C. The triples of states from the three isotopes, which correspond to each other, have also similar widths and cross-section ratios. It is concluded that the same (sd )³ structures are populated in the three carbon isotopes. The observed levels of ¹⁷C are also compared to the levels of ¹⁹O with known assignments and to shell model calculations, and their decay properties are discussed.     

Measurement of RLT and ATL in the 4He(e, e’p)3H reaction at pmiss of 130-300 MeV/ c

We have measured the ⁴He(e, ep)³H reaction at missing momenta of 130-300 MeV/c using the three-spectrometer facility at the Mainz microtron MAMI. Data were taken in perpendicular kinematics to allow us to determine the response function R_LT and the asymmetry term A_TL. The data are compared to both relativistic and non-relativistic calculations.     

Investigation of lifetimes in dipole bands of 142Gd

Lifetimes have been measured for dipole bands in ¹⁴²Gd using DSAM. The deduced B(M1) and B(E2) values as well as B(M1)/B(E2) ratios are compared with calculations in the framework of the TAC (Tilted Axis Cranking) and SPAC (Shears mechanism with Principal Axis Cranking) models. The dipole bands DB1 to DB4 can be interpreted as magnetic rotational bands.     

A 3-quasiparticle isomer in neutron-rich <Superscript>183</Superscript>Ta

Excited states in neutron-rich ¹⁸³Ta have been studied using a two-neutron transfer reaction of ¹⁸¹Ta(¹⁸O,¹⁶O) . In-beam -rays were measured in coincidence with scattered ions detected by a high-resolution E -E Si telescope for reaction channel selection. Previously known 1-quasiparticle bands are extended to higher spins, and several levels including a T _1/2 = 0.9(3) μs 3-quasiparticle isomer are identified.     

Decay studies of <Superscript>210-214</Superscript>Fr using α- γ-coincidences

The -decay fine structure of ^210-214Fr has been studied by --coincidence measurements. The nuclei were produced using the ¹²C on ²⁰⁹Bi reaction. Evaporation residues recoiling out of the target were separated in-flight by the velocity filter SHIP and stopped in a position-sensitive 16-strip PIPS-detector in order to study their subsequent decays. In the present work new and improved results for ^210-214Fr, produced by -decay of the primary reaction products ^214-218Ac, were extracted. The results are discussed and compared to previously published data.