Coulomb excitation of levels in 143Nd and 145Nd

The low-lying states of ¹⁴³Nd and ¹⁵⁴Nd have been studied by means of Coulomb excitation with ¹⁶O and α-particles. Angular distribution measurements were carried out for some transitions in ¹⁴⁵Nd with 11.2 MeV α-particles. Level energy decay schemes and B(E2)↑ values were measured for two states in ¹⁴³Nd and for six states in ¹⁴⁵Nd. Some spin assignments have been established for the ¹⁴⁵Nd nucleus. ¹⁴³Nd and ¹⁴⁵Nd have been theoretically described by coupling one and three particles, respectively, to quadrupole vibrations, and rather good agreement with experiment was achieved.     

High-spin states in the single-closed-shell nucleus 142Nd

The excited states of ¹⁴²₆₀Nd₈₂ have been studied using the ¹⁴⁰Ce(α, 2nγ)¹⁴²Nd and ¹⁴²Ce(α, 4γ)¹⁴²Nd reactions. Singles γ-ray, γ-γ coincidence spectra and angular distributions of γ-rays with respect to the beam direction have been measured. Excited states up to 6.7 MeV with spin values up to 14 are populated. The energy spacings between the lower excited states with spin values up to 8 are similar to those found in the lighter N = 82, even-Z isotones. The majority of the observed states with spin values up to 10 can be explained as two-quasiparticle states. Several of the highest-spin states can be explained qualitatively as fourquasiparticle states. Strong population of the highest excited states (at about 5.7 MeV) is noted, like in other N = 82 isotones. The observed levels in ¹⁴²Nd are compared with the shell model predictions using a simple δ-force interaction between two nucleons.     

Reactions of 40Ar with 159Tb, 142Nd and 144Sm; New α-activities from 189Bi, 173Pt and 177Au

Reactions of ⁴⁰Ar ions with targets of ¹⁵⁹Tb, ¹⁴²Nd, and ¹⁴⁴Sm have been studied at energies below 300 MeV with a helium gas-jet system. Excitation functions for (Ar, xn) reactions, where x = 5–10, were obtained for the radioactive products that decay by α-emission. Based on the characteristics of these excitation functions and on the systematics of α-decay, evidence is presented for the existence of the nuclides ¹⁸⁹Bi with α-particle energy E_α = 6.67±0.01 MeV and half-life < 1.5 sec, and ¹⁷³Pt with E_α = 6.19±0.01 MeV; and for the emission from ¹⁷⁷Au of an α-particle with E_α = 6.15±0.01 MeV.     

Energy levels in 142Nd

The excited states of ¹⁴²Nd were studied by means of the decay of 40 sec ¹⁴²Pm and the ¹⁴²Nd(p, p') reaction via isobaric analog resonances. Approximately sixty levels of ¹⁴²Nd were observed below 5.3 MeV excitation, including several neutron particle-hole states excited strongly in (p, p') at f_{$\text{7}\text{2}$}, p_{$\text{3}\text{2}$}, p_{$\text{1}\text{2}$} and f_{$\text{5}\text{2}$} analog resonances. We have collected together all known energy levels in ¹⁴²Nd and have proposed J^π assignments for 22 excited states. We have also compared the experimental level spectrum (positive-parity states only) with a calculated one based on the shell model.     

Spin assignments from the 142Nd(7Li, 6He)143Pm and 144Sm(7Li, 6He)145Eu reactions at 52 MeV

Angular distributions have been measured for transitions to low-lying states in ¹⁴³Pm and ¹⁴⁵Eu populated by the ¹⁴²Nd(⁷Li, ⁶He)¹⁴³ and the ¹⁴⁴Sm(⁷Li, ⁶He)¹⁴⁵Eu reactions at $\text{E(}{}^7\text{Li}\text{) = 52}$ MeV. Elastic scattering of ⁷Li at 52 MeV on ¹⁴²Nd and ¹⁴⁴Sm, and ⁶Li at 46 MeV on ¹⁴²Nd and at 45 MeV on ¹⁴⁴Sm, were measured. Optical-model parameters extracted from fits to the scattering data were used in a finite-range DWBA analysis of the angular distributions for levels below 1.40 MeV excitation energy in ¹⁴³Pm and 1.84 MeV in ¹⁴⁵Eu. The reaction cross sections forward of 6° c.m. allow unambiguous distinction to be made between 2d_{$\text{5}\text{2}$} and 2d_{$\text{3}\text{2}$} final states. Final-state spins have been assigned to d-states in ¹⁴³Pm at 1.40 MeV($\text{3}\text{2}$⁺)and in ¹⁴⁵Eu at 1.042 MeV ($\text{3}\text{2}$⁺). Existing assignments to other levels in both residual nuclei have been confirmed.     

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 $\text{7}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$.     

Heavy ion induced transfer reactions on 148Nd

Transfer reactions induced by ¹⁶O and ¹⁸O beams on ¹⁴⁸Nd were measured with a time-of-flight setup at 72 MeV incident energy. The angular distributions are bell shapes having their maxima at angles somewhat below the grazing angle. The excitation in the final nuclei takes place (if possible) near the optimum Q-value and is spread over 5 MeV for the one-particle transfer reactions and up to 10 MeV for the multiparticle transfers. The cross sections for the individual channels are explained mostly by Q-window considerations. In spite of the differences in the individual channels the total transfer cross section integrated over excitation energy, angle, and all channels turns out to be the same same for both ¹⁶O and ¹⁸O beams. This cross section amounts to 20 % of the total reaction cross section and nicely fills the gap between the measured fusion cross section and the total reaction cross section obtained from optical model calculations based on elastic scattering data.     

In-beam study of 136Ce and 138Nd isotones with N = 78

Excited states in ¹³⁶Ce and ¹³⁸Nd have been investigated by means of in-beam spectroscopy with the (p, 4nγ) reaction. Excitation functions and angular distributions of γ-rays were measured with a Ge(Li) detector, and conversion electron spectra were taken with a magnetic spectrometer. Time-dependent spectra of γ-rays revealed delayed components with half-lives of 2.2μsec and 0.41μsec in ¹³⁶Ce and ¹³⁸Nd, respectively. Most of the excited states are classified as belonging to the quasi-ground-state rotational band and the quasi-gamma band. Negative parity 5^? and 7^? states were also observed.     

Coulomb excitation of 115Sn

Coulomb excitation of the nucleus ¹¹⁵Sn was studied with beams of ⁴He and ¹⁶O. Level energies, spins, mean-lives and B(E2) and B(M1) transition probabilities were obtained. Spin $\text{3}\text{2}$⁺ states were observed at 497.35 and 1280.08 keV and spin $\text{5}\text{2}$⁺ states were observed at 986.54 and 1416.78 keV. A state of 612.79 keV was observed to be indirectly excited by decay of the Coulomb excited states. Eleven B(E2) values and nine B(M1) values were obtained for the transitions between the low-lying states. In contrast to previous particle transfer results which suggested a clear distinction between shell-model and collective $\text{3}\text{2}$⁺ and $\text{5}\text{2}$⁺ states, our results suggest the collective strength is shared by the two $\text{3}\text{2}$⁺ and two $\text{5}\text{2}$⁺ states.     

Rotational states in 151Nd populated through thermal neutron capture

The level scheme in the nucleus ¹⁵¹ Nd has been studied following neutron capture by observing the γ-rays and conversion electrons with curved-crystal spectrometers, a Ge(Li) detector and a β-spectrometer. A comprehensive level scheme up to ? 1 MeV was established. It is shown that the present level scheme energies differ from those previously found in a ¹⁵⁰Nd(d, p) reaction study by a systematic shift of 27 keV. The binding energy of the last neutron in ¹⁵¹Nd was deduced. For most levels spin and parity values are proposed and an identification of bands with Nilsson-model configurations is given.     

Projectile Coulomb excitation of 24Mg

The static quadrupole moment of the first excited J^π = 2⁺ state in ²⁴Mg and the reduced electric quadrupole transition probability between this state and the ground state were measured via projectile Coulomb excitation. The quadrupole moment was deduced from the shapes of γ-ray angular distributions. The result is $\text{Q(}{}^{24}\text{Mg}\text{, 2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{) = ?0.27±0.05}\text{b}$. The transition strength was deduced from yield measurements and by comparison with the yields of target γ-rays, The result is $\text{B(}\text{E}\text{2; 0}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{→ 2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{,}{}^{24}\text{Mg}\text{) = 0.044±0.003 e}{}^2\text{·}\text{b}{}^2$. The experimental measurements are compared with theoretical predictions and previous measurements and a detailed discussion is given of corrections to this type of reorientation experiment.     

Studies of single-neutron holes in the transitional nuclei N = 83–89: The 142Ce(d,t)141Ce and 142Ce(3He, α)141Ce pick-up reactions

The level structure of ¹⁴¹Ce up to 3.7 MeV excitation energy has been investigated by the (d, t) and (³He, α) reactions using 17 MeV deuteron and 24 MeV ³He beams respectively. The angular distributions have been analyzed with standard DWBA calculations and spectroscopic factors are deduced. The experimental information is compared to unified model calculations involving both one-particle and two-particle one-hole configurations with quadrupole and octupole vibrations of the underlying N = 82 and N = 84 core.     

Nuclear reactions of 118Sn, 121Sb,and 127I with argon ions

Excitation functions have been measured for a number of (⁴⁰Ar, xn), (⁴⁰Ar, pxn), (⁴⁰Ar, 2pxn), and (⁴⁰Ar, 3pxn) reactions induced in ¹¹⁸Sn, ¹²¹Sb and ¹²⁷I over the lab. energy interval 150–280 MeV. Values of the total fusion cross section are obtained and J_crit is deduced. The value of J_crit increases with energy and becomes as large as 110–140?, in reasonable agreement with the yrast limit deduced from the ellipsoidal liquid drop model. The competition between proton and neutron emission from the compound nucleus is examined and $\text{Γ}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>p</mtext>}}\text{Γ}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>n</mtext>}}$ is found to increase rapidly with the number of emitted nucleons, thereby imposing severe limits on the production of very neutron deficient miclides via compound nuclear reactions. The effect of very high angular momentum on the excitation functions is examined.     

Spreading width of the IAS in even Pm isotopes measured via the ANd(3He,t)APm and ANd(3He,tp)A−1Nd reactions

Total and escape widths of IAS in even-A Pm isotopes have been measured via the ^ANd(³He, t)^APm and ^ANd(³He, t$\text{p}$)^A?1Nd reactions. Values for the spreading widths have been deduced and found to increase strongly with the excitation energy of the IAS through the chain of Pm isotopes. This behaviour, in contrast with the much smoother global increase with mass number, is attributed to a dependence on level density.     

Nuclear reactions of 24 MeV 7Li on 10B

The charged-particle reaction channels accessible in the bombardment of ¹⁰B targets by ⁷Li nuclei of 24 MeV incident energy are investigated by measuring all ejectiles up to Be. Except for tritons, the reactions with light ejectiles proceed mainly via the formation of a compound nucleus, whereas some of the reactions with ejectiles heavier than the α-particle can be described by a direct mechanism.     

Optimum Q-values for the 58Ni(160O,12C) reaction well above the Coulomb barrier

The reaction ⁵⁸Ni(¹⁶O, ¹²C) has been studied at three incident energies, 60, 72 and 81 MeV, for a wide range of scattering angles. The angular and energy dependence of the optimum Q-value has been determined from the data. A simple optimum Q-value model which combines the recoil model of Siemens et al. with a concept of nuclear friction is proposed.     

Study of the (3He,d) reactions on 58, 60Ni and 56Fe near the Coulomb barrier

Using spectroscopic information gained by earlier measurements of the proton bound states populated by stripping reactions, (³He, d) reactions on ^{58, 60}Ni and ⁵⁶Fe targets are studied at energies near the Coulomb barrier and evaluation is made of the vertex function . This value is then used to determine spectroscopic factors for low-lying states in ⁵⁷Co.     

Energy dependence of the optical model parameters for 3He ions scattered from 40Ca and 58Ni

The differential cross sections for the elastic scattering of ³He ions on targets of ⁴⁰Ca and ⁵⁸Ni have been measured at incident energies of 27.7, 51.4, 73.2 and 83.5 MeV. The results of optical model analyses showed that only one unique potential (J_R ≈ 330 MeV · fm³) with a surface absorptive term can provide acceptable fits to the large angle elastic scattering cross sections at 83.5 MeV. The particular geometrical set found at 83.5 MeV could not, however, give an adequate fit to the data with energy less than 40 MeV. Subsequent analyses indicated that a break in the energy dependence of the real potential is observed for the low energy data. Explicit energy dependent terms were obtained by fitting all the data simultaneously. These phenomenological potentials were also compared with the folded nucleon-nucleus potential. The influence of the α-particle channels on the elastic scattering of ³He ions at 83.5 MeV was also examined.