Isospin-forbidden particle decays in light nuclei: (II). Widths of T = 32 levels of 17O

The lowest four $\text{T =}\text{3}\text{2}$ levels of ¹⁷O have been observed as resonances in the ¹³C(α, n)¹⁶O reaction. Excitation energies and widths obtained for these levels are 11.076 ± 0.005 MeV, Γ_c.m. = 5.0 ± 1.1 keV; 12.458 ± 0.005 MeV, Γ_c.m. = 8 ± 2 keV; 12.944 ± 0.006 MeV, Γ_c.m. = 6 ± 2 keV; 12.993 ± 0.006 MeV, Γ_c.m. < 3 keV. The total and partial decay widths for the lowest $\text{T =}\text{3}\text{2}$ level are much larger than those of the analogue level in ¹⁷F, implying significant isotensor components in the $\text{T =}\text{1}\text{2}$ admixtures.     

Investigation of the 3.46 MeV isomeric level of 38K with the 24Mg(16O,pnγ)38K reaction

The τ_{$\text{1}\text{2}$} = 22 μs isomeric level of ³⁸K at an excitation energy of 3458.0 ± 0.2keVf is strongly populated in the ²⁴Mg(¹⁶O, pnγ)³⁸K reaction. Delayed γ-rays are studied with Ge(Li), Si(Li), and NaI detectors. Accurate excitation energies, branching ratios and lifetimes of levels involved in the decay of the isomeric state are determined. The isomeric level predominantly decays by a dipole transition of 38.03±0.03 keV with a total conversion coefficient of α_T = 0.42 ± 0.15. Mean lives of ³⁸K levels are measured with the recoil-distance method. The results are τ_m = 10.1 ± 0.9 ps, 1.41 ± 0.14 ns and 101 ± 15 ps for the levels at excitation energies of 0.46, 2.65 and 3.42 MeV, respectively. It is suggested that the (1f_{$\text{7}\text{2}$})² structure of a low-lying J^π = 7⁺ state in combination with the selection rules for γ-decay in a self-conjugate nucleus is responsible for the isomerism.     

Electromagnetic transitions in 42Ti

Levels in ⁴²Ti up to 4 MeV have been investigated using the ⁴⁰Ca(³He, n)⁴²Ti reaction and a neutron time-of-flight method. Using the DSA method, lifetimes of 750±300, > 200, 350±250, > 2000 and < 250 fs have been measured for levels at E_x = 1.56, 1.85, 2.40, 2.68 and 3.74 MeV respectively. The level at E_x = 3043.0±1.5 keV is tentatively identified as the 6⁺ member of the $\text{(f}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>7</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{)}{}^2$ configuration, and its mean life has been measured as 26±5 ns by a direct timing method. Using isospin formalism, transition strengths are compared with theoretical and experimental values for ⁴²Ca and ⁴²Sc.     

12C(7Li,t)16O and stellar helium fusion

The reaction ¹²C(⁷Li, t)¹⁶O has been studied at $\text{E(}{}^7\text{Li}\text{) = 34}\text{MeV}$ with the LASL tandem accelerator and QDDD magnetic spectrometer. Angular distributions to levels with E_x < 11 MeV have been obtained from 0° to 90°, including 0°. The results have been analyzed with finite-range distorted-wave Born approximation theory. The α-particle spectroscopic factors and reduced widths obtained are compared with those calculated with group theory (SU(3)) and other models. The analysis of data for the 7.1 and 9.6 MeV J^π = 1^? levels, which are of great importance in stellar helium buring, yields a ratio, R, of dimensionless reduced α-widths $\text{θ}{}^2{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>a</mtext>}}\text{(7.1}\text{MeV}\text{)}\text{θ}{}^2{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>a</mtext>}}\text{(9.6}\text{MeV}\text{)}\text{= 0.35b ± 0.13}$. The observed line width of the 9.6 MeV level (Γ_c.m. = 390 ± 60 keV) is less than the accepted value (Γ_c.m. = 510 ± 60 keV) and implies θ²_a(9.6 MeV) ≈ 0.6. These results as well as data for the 6.92 MeV J^π = 2⁺ and 10.35 MeV J^π = 4⁺ “α-cluster” states indicate 0.09 < θ²_a(7.1 MeV) < 0.33 with a mean value θ²_a(7.1 MeV) = 0.14 ± 0.04. The implication for stellar helium burning is discussed.     

Negative-parity states in Pb isotopes: g-factor of the 480 ns,if Jπ = 9− isomer in 200Pb

The g-factor of the 480 ns, 9^? isomer at 2.237 MeV in ²⁰⁰Pb was measured by the time-differential perturbed angular distribution method. The result, g = ?0.0285±0.0011 confirms the rather pure $\text{(}\text{f}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>5</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}\text{i}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>13</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}\text{)}$ quasiparticle structure of this state. Half-lives of 480±20 ns, 43±3 ns and 42±4 ns have been measured for the 2237 keV 9^?, 2154 keV 7^? states in ²⁰⁰Pb and the 2208 keV state in ²⁰²Pb, respectively; E2 transitions and g-factors of negative-parity states in even, neutron-deficient Pb isotopes are discussed.     

The 12C(13C, α)21Ne reaction: High-spin states,resonances and coherence widths

Excitation functions were measured for states of ²¹Ne populated by the ${}^{12}\text{C}\text{(}{}^{13}\text{C}\text{, α)}$ reaction over the bombarding energy range E_lab = 18.2–32.0 MeV (18.4–27.0 MeV) at θ_lab = 7°(25°) in in 200 keV steps, and average coherence widths of states and the moment of inertia of the compound nucleus ²⁵Mg were obtained from these excitation functions. A statistical analysis of these data was performed. Angular distributions for states in ²¹Ne to 10 MeV in excitation energy were measured at θ_lab = 7°, 18°, 28° and 43° at bombarding energies from 29.0 to 31.0 MeV in 400 keV steps. These data along with Hauser-Feshbach predictions allow us to suggest spins for some states as well as to suggest possible candidates for rotational bands in ²¹Ne.     

Evidence for assignment of 14.0 MeV state in 11B from 10B(n,n)10B

The differential cross section and polarization for neutrons scattered from ¹⁰B have been measured at E_n = 2.63 MeV (E_x = 13.85 MeV). The results of this experiment and other available neutron scattering data in the range 1 < E_n < 4 MeV are interpreted through a single-level R-matrix calculation over the region 12 < E_x < 15 MeV. Based on this analysis the most probable J^π assignment for the 14.0 MeV level in ¹¹B is $\text{11}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$. The anomaly near E_x = 13.1 MeV can only be explained in terms of two overlapping levels having assignments of ($\text{5}\text{2}$, $\text{7}\text{2}$)^? and ($\text{3}\text{2}$, $\text{5}\text{2}$, $\text{7}\text{2}$)⁺.     

7 MeV dipole ground state transitions in 207Pb, 208Pb and 209Bi

The Doppler-broadened 7.117 MeV line from the ¹⁹F(p, αγ)¹⁶O reaction has been used to resonantly excite levels in ²⁰⁸Pb at 7071±2 and 7091±2 keV, in ²⁰⁷Pb at 7186±5 and 7206±5 keV and in ²⁰⁹Bi at 7179±5 and 7202±5 keV. On the basis of angular distribution measurements the 7071 and 7091 keV levels of ²⁰⁸Pb are assigned spins of 1 and assuming 100% ground state branching the widths are calculated to be 31±3 and 17±2 eV respectively. It is suggested that the states in ²⁰⁷Pb and ²⁰⁹Bi arise from the weak coupling of a $\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ neutron hole and an $\text{h}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>9</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ proton respectively to one or the other of the ²⁰⁸Pb levels. The widths obtained in terms of _gΓ_o²/Γ are 15±4 and 25±5 eV for the 7186 and 7206 keV levels of ²⁰⁷Pb and 24±5 and 30±5 for the levels of ²⁰⁹Bi respectively. These values are consistent with the weak-coupling suggestion.     

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.     

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

Properties of the 2' and 2” states in 106, 112, 114Cd

Angular correlations have been measured between γ-rays from the 2 → 2 → 0 cascades in ^106,112,114Cd and the beam of 11.0 MeV α particles effecting Coulomb excitation. Multipole admixtures for the 2 → 2 transitions, as deduced from these correlations, when combined with earlier results establish their B(E2) and B(M1) values. For the transitions from the 1312 and 1208 keV states in ^112,114Cd the B(E2) values in single-particle units are 18±4 and 24±7. These values are typical for transitions from “two-quadrupole-phonon” states in this mass region whereas that of the 1718 keV transition in ¹⁰⁶Cd has the smaller value of 7.0±2.3. The B(E2) values of the 2 → 2 transitions in ^112,114Cd from the 1468 and 1363 keV states are < 0.3 single-particle units. The B(M1) values of all five transitions are ≈ 10^?2$\text{(}\text{e}\text{h}\text{?}\text{2Mc}\text{)}{}^2$.     

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.     

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.     

The isoscalar strength distribution in 24, 26Mg, 28Si and 40Ca obtained from inelastic alpha scattering at 120 Mev

The inelastic α-scattering reaction at E_α = 120 MeV with an energy resolution of 90–150 keV has been used to investigate isoscalar strength distributions in ^{24, 26}Mg, ²⁸Si and ⁴⁰Ca. For ^{24, 26}Mg and ²⁸Si the E2 strength between E_x = 14 and 27 MeV is strongly fragmented. In ⁴⁰Ca the E2 strength is mainly concentrated near $\text{E}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>x</mtext>}}\text{~ 65 A}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>3</mtext>}}$ MeV, although here the onset of fragmentation can be observed. The sum rule strength for the different multipolarities was obtained by applying for each nucleus an L-dependent normalization procedure. In this way we observed in total in ^{24, 26}Mg, ²⁸Si and ⁴⁰Ca for excitation energies up to 27 MeV an amount of (61⁺⁸_?6), (50⁺⁹_?8), (38⁺⁸_?6) and (94 ± 14)%, respectively, of the isoscalar E2 energy weighted sum rule (EWSR) of which (36⁺⁷_?5), (28⁺⁸_?7), (24⁺⁷_?5) and (74 ± 12)% was found between E_x = 14 and 27 MeV. In addition isoscalar E0, E3 and E4 strength was observed in this excitation energy region. A detailed comparison has been made between the isoscalar quadrupole strength distribution observed in the ^{24, 26}Mg(α, α') reaction and the E2 strength excitation function obtained from radiative α-capture measurements. In the low excitation energy region coupled channel effects have been observed, especially for the excitation of the 3⁺ states. Moreover, a considerable percentage of the 1?ω isoscalar dipole and octupole strength has been observed for excitations below 14 MeV.     

High-spin states and two-quasiparticle structure in 172Hf

Five rotational bands in ¹⁷²Hf have been observed to high spin following the ¹⁶⁰Gd(¹⁶O, 4n)¹⁷²Hf reaction, using γ-γ coincidence techniques. The ground-state band is extended to spin 20⁺ without backbending, in contrast to the neighbouring even-even isotones. The most strongly populated side-band, consisting of separated odd-spin and even-spin sequences, appears to result from the partial decoupling of an i_{$\text{13}\text{2}$} neutron. Three other bands are identified with the following band-heads: an 8^? state at 2006 keV with 163 ns half-life; a 6⁺ state at 1685 keV with a half-life < 16 ns; and a level at 1857 keV with spin 4, 5, 6 or 7 and a half-life < 16 ns. The differences between the bands are discussed in terms of the influence of Coriolis forces and the two-quasiparticle level structure.     

Transition rates in97Tc

The de-excitation of the 215 keV $\text{7}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ and 324 keV $\text{5}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ levels in⁹⁷Tc, as observed in ⁹⁷Ru decay, was studied by means of internal conversion electron spectroscopy and the delayed electron-electron coincidence technique. From L-subshell intensity ratios, the E2 content in the 108 and 215 keV transitions were found to be (65 ± 12)% and (7 ± 4)%, respectively. The obtained level mean-lives were 0.75 ± 0.09 ns for the 324 keV level and 74 ± 15 ps for the 215 keV level.     

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.     

Hydrogen burning of 20Ne and 22Ne in stars

The ²⁰Ne(p, γ)²¹Na capture reaction has been studied in the energy range E_p = 0.37–2.10 MeV. Direct-capture transitions to the $\text{332 (}\text{5}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)}\text{and}\text{2425}\text{keV}\text{(}\text{1}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)}$ states have been found with spectroscopic factors of C²S(1d) = 0.77±0.13 and C²S(2s) = 0.90±0.12, respectively. The high-energy tail of the 2425 keV state, bound by 7 keV against proton decay, has also been observed in the above energy range as a subthreshold resonance. The excitation function for this tail is consistent with a single-level Breit-Wigner shape for a γ-width of Γ_γ = 0.31±0.07 eV at E_x = 2425 keV. The extrapolation of these data to stellar energies gives an astrophysical S-factor of S(0) = 3500 keV · b. Two new resonances at E_p = 384±5 and 417± 5 keV have been observed with strengths of ωγ = 0.11±0.02 and 0.06±0.01 meV, corresponding to the known states at and 2829 keV (presumably $\text{9}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$), respectively. For the known E_p = 1830 keV resonance, a strength of ωγ = 1.0± 0.3 eV and a total width of Γ = 180± 15 keV were found. Branching ratios as well as transition strengths have been obtained for these three states. The Q-value for the ²⁰Ne(p, γ)²¹Na reaction (Q = 2432.3 ± 0.5 keV) as well as excitation energies for many low-lying states in ²¹Na have been measured. No evidence was found for the existence of the state reported at E_x = 4308±4 keV.In the case of ²²Ne(p, γ)²³Na, direct-capture transitions to six final bound states have been observed revealing sizeable spectroscopic factors for these states. The astrophysical S-factor extrapolated from these data to stellar energies, is S(0) = 67 ± 12 keV · b.The astrophysical as well as the nuclear structure aspects of the present results are discussed.     

The 16O + p → 17F (T = 32) resonances at Ep = 11.26,12.71 and 14.57 MeV

Excitation functions for ¹⁶O+p reactions have been measured with high energy resolution in the region of the first, second and seventh $\text{T =}\text{3}\text{2}$ resonances in ¹⁷F at extreme backward angles. The observed resonance shapes have been analyzed with a single-level resonance formula taking the off-resonance spin-flip amplitude into account. The resonance parameters of the ¹⁷F first $\text{T =}\text{3}\text{2}$ state studied with special emphasis are E_x = 11193.3 ± 2.3 keV, Γ = 200 ± 40 eV and Γ_p0 = 19 ± 3 eV. This result and other results are compared with previous studies and theoretical predictions. The comparison with data of the mirror nucleus ¹⁷O is discussed with respect to the observed charge asymmetry of the isospin-forbidden particle decay widths.     

An I = 1 enhancement at a mass of 1550 MeV in the (Λπ) and (Σπ)-systems

Evidence is presented for an I = 1 enhancement observed in the reactions K^?p→Λ(Σ)K⁰₁K^±π^? at $\text{4.2}\text{GeV}\text{c}$ inciden momentum. The mass and width of the proposed new Y¹ are, respectively, (1553 ± 7) MeV) and (80 ± 30) MeV. A decay branching ratio $\text{Σπ}\text{(Σπ + Λπ)}\text{= (35 ± 12)\%}$ is also obtained.