New rotational bands in 174Ta

Three new bands in ¹⁷⁴Ta have been identified by using the ¹⁶⁰Gd(¹⁹F,5n) reaction at beam energies of 87 MeV and 96 MeV. Nilsson configurations are assigned to these bands. In the 9/2⁻[514]_p+5/2⁻[512]_n band, the AB neutron crossing occurs at a rotational frequency of 0.30 MeV. This is indicative of the disappearance of the evidence for a reduction in neutron pair correlations. Received: 30 March 1998     

Microsecond isomers in 187Tl and 188Pb

Lifetime measurements of states in nuclei with A=187 and 188 have been performed, using reactions between ¹⁵⁵Gd and ³⁶Ar and following the transport of evaporation residues to the focal plane of a gas-filled recoil separator. In a separate experiment using the ¹⁵⁹Tb(³²S, 4n) reaction the γ-decay of isomeric levels in ¹⁸⁷Tl has been studied using delayed γ-γ coincidence measurements. From observation of their subsequent γ decay, the mean lifetimes were measured to be 1000 ± 55 ns and 1600 ± 100 ns. Although it was not possible to characterize the isomers completely, they are proposed as candidates for one-proton, two-neutron excitations. In the course of this study, the decay of an isomer in ¹⁸⁸Pb was also observed and its lifetime was measured as 1150 ± 30 ns, and limits of 20–600 ns were placed on the meanlife of an isomer conjectured in ¹⁸⁷Pb. Received: 20 August 1999     

Observation of intermediate bands feeding the positive-parity yrast band in 155Gd

High-spin states of ¹⁵⁵Gd were populated by using the ¹⁵⁴Sm(α,3nγ)¹⁵⁵Gd reaction at E _α= 33 MeV. γ-γ coincidence, E _γ singles, excitation function, and the DCO ratios were measured. we have identified three intermediate bands with ΔI= 2 feeding the positive yrast band. The bands are interpreted as such candidate bands that are mixed with the negative-parity ground state band. This observation can provide a plausible explanation for unusually large population of the positive-parity yrast band observed in a recent Coulomb excitation. Received: 2 November 1999     

Observation of signature inversion in odd-odd 178Ir

High spin states in ¹⁷⁸Ir have been studied via the ¹⁵²Sm(³¹P, 5nγ)¹⁷⁸Ir reaction through excitation functions, X-γ and γ-γ-t coincidence measurements. According to the band structure characteristics and the measured intraband B(M1)/B(E2) ratios, two rotational bands are identified and assigned to be associated with the πh _9/2⊗νi _13/2 and πh _11/2⊗νi _13/2 configurations, respectively. Both bands show the signature inversion feature. Received: 23 March 2000 / Accepted: 31 July 2000     

Rotational bands in 181Ta

High-spin states in ¹⁸¹Ta have been studied via the ¹⁷⁶Yb(¹¹B,α2n) reaction at 52 MeV using the PEX array and at 57 MeV using the NORDBALL array, with α-particle detection. The previously known, K^π=(7/2)⁺ ground state band and K^π=(9/2)⁻ band have been extended to spins (29/2)⁺ and (31/2)⁻, respectively. Two new one-quasiparticle bands, the K^π=(5/2)⁺ band built on the known (5/2)⁺ isomer and a K^π=((1/2)⁻) band have been observed. Two other rotational bands with three-quasiparticle structure, K^π=(15/2)⁻ and ((19/2)⁺ with π(7/2)[404]ν²(1/2)[510](9/2)[624] and π(9/2)[514]ν²(1/2)[510](9/2)[624] configurations, respectively, have been newly observed. The half-life of the K^π=((19/2)⁺) bandhead which decays to the head of the (15/2)⁻ band has been measured to be 140(36) ns. However, transitions from the ((19/2)⁺) state to the (15/2)⁻ band have not been observed. Received: 26 August 1998     

High-spin states in 160Lu

High-spin states of ¹⁶⁰Lu have been studied through the ¹⁴⁴Sm( ¹⁹F, 3n) reaction. The previously known πh _11/2⊗υi _13/2 yrast band is extended from I ^π = 21^- to 25^- and a four quasiparticle band with configuration πh _11/2[523]7/2 ^-⊗υh _9/2[521]3/2 ^-⊗ (υi _13/2)² is reported. Received: 21 May 2001 / Accepted: 19 July 2001     

High-spin states in 166Lu

It is shown that the discrepancy between the results obtained for different neutron energy ranges, when neutron polarizability is derived from the neutron scattering data, can be removed if one assumes that at the fast neutron scattering a strong-interaction long-range potential of Van der Waals (～ r ^?6 ) or Casimir-Polder (～ r ^?7 ) is observed. This strong-interaction long-range potential has possibly some experimental confirmation in the elastic p-p scattering.     

Rotational bands in 167Hf

High-spin states in ¹⁶⁷Hf, populated in the ¹⁴¹Pr(³⁰Si, p3n)¹⁶⁷Hf reaction, have been studied using the nordball Ge detector array. Three rotational cascades have been observed for the first time and the previously-known level scheme has been extended to significantly higher spin. Band-crossing effects are discussed within the framework of Woods-Saxon cranking calculations and are found to be in good agreement. Received: 9 April 1999 / Revised version: 13 May 1999     

Identification of Rotational Band in Doubly Odd 170Ta

High spin states in ¹⁷⁰Ta have been studied via ¹⁵⁹Tb(¹⁶O,5nγ)¹⁷⁰Ta reaction through excitation functions, K X-γ and γ-γ-t coincidence measurements. Three rotational bands have been identified among which one coupled band and an unfavored δI=2 E2 transition sequence are newly found in this work. The possible quasiparticle configurations of these bands are discussed. Received: 7 November 1997     

High-K quasiparticle structures in 159Er and 160Er

A series of new strongly coupled high-K, multi-quasiparticle structures have been observed in the light erbium transitional nuclei, ¹⁵⁹Er and ¹⁶⁰Er. The interpretation of these bands is discussed within the framework of the cranked shell model. These sequences, when taken together with the existing quasiparticle excitations, form a near complete set of low-lying, multi-quasiparticle structures on which a coherent series of aligned angular momentum, band crossing and blocking arguments can be based. The measured B(M1)/B(E2) ratios are compared with geometrical calculations to test the proposed configuration assignments. Received: 19 November 1997     

New insight in the level structure of <Superscript>153</Superscript>Er

The high-spin level structure of the ¹⁵³Er nucleus has been reinvestigated by in-beam γ-ray and electron spectroscopy with (¹⁴N,pxn) reaction. Excitation energies, spin and parity assignments are unambiguously established for the two lowest isomers T _1/2≃ 380 ns and T_1/2\simeq 10 ns. The characteristics of the third one (T _1/2≃ 250 ns) at 5.2 MeV are still questionable but its main decay modes are better known. An extension of the level scheme is proposed up to 8.4 MeV.Experimental results have been discussed in terms of shell model multiplets and compared with the other structures observed in N=85 neighbouring nuclei. Received: 8 November 1999 / Revised version: 13 December 1999     

High-spin states in odd-odd 168Lu

High-spin states of odd-odd ¹⁶⁸Lu were observed up to 18ħ for the first time using the ¹⁵⁹Tb(¹³C, 4nγ)¹⁶⁸Lu reaction at E _13C= 58.5 MeV. γ-γ coincidence, E _γ singles, excitation function, and the DCO ratios were measured. Two rotational bands with signature splitting were populated, among which the lower-energy band is identified as π 7/2⁺[404] ⊗ν 5/2⁺[642] in view of alignment and energy systematics. Received: 27 October 1997     

High-spin states in neutron-rich Dy isotopes populated in deep-inelastic reactions

High-spin states in neutron-rich Dy isotopes, populated in deep-inelastic processes produced by the interaction of 234 MeV ³⁷Cl ions with a ¹⁶⁰Gd target, have been studied using the highly sensitive EUROBALL IV gamma-ray detector array. The previously known level schemes for ^{159,160,161,162}Dy have been extended to significantly higher spin ( ? 30?) and the i _13/2 band crossing in ¹⁵⁹Dy has been observed for the first time. The experimental results are discussed within the framework of cranked shell model and projected shell model calculations with particular reference to the observed delayed band crossing in ¹⁶²Dy. Received: 20 October 2000 / Accepted: 16 January 2001     

Shape co-existence and structural evolution of the yrast band in 157Yb

The high-spin states of ¹⁵⁷Yb have been studied via the ¹⁴⁴Sm(¹⁶O, 3n) reaction at ¹⁶O energy of 90 MeV using techniques of in-beam γ-ray spectroscopy. Measurement of γ-γ-t coincidences was performed with 11 BGO(AC)HPGe detectors. Based on the measured results of γ-γ coincidences, γ-ray anisotropies and DCO ratios, the level scheme for ¹⁵⁷Yb was established. The shape co-existence and structural evolution of the νi _13/2 band with increasing angular momentum in ¹⁵⁷Yb have been discussed. The systematics of the νi _13/2 bands in the N = 87 odd-A isotones have been compared. Received: 7 January 2002 / Accepted: 10 April 2002     

High-spin isomers in 183Os

High-spin states in ¹⁸³Os have been studied by means of in-beam γ-ray spectroscopy. Two isomers with I ^π= ((43/2)⁻) and (43/2)⁺ have been identified at excitation energies of E _x = 5.068 and 5.168 MeV. The half-lives are determined as T _1/2= 27 ± 3 and 24 ± 2 ns. Received: 22 December 1997     

A high spin isomer in 153Eu

A search for new isomers of nanosecond lifetimes were carried out in ¹⁵³Eu via the ¹⁵⁰Nd(⁷Li,xnγ) reaction. The single particle angular momentum alignment and dynamical moment of inertia estimated from the experimental data indicate a configuration change at rotational energy ħω∼ 0.30 MeV. A decrease of B(E2) values is also observed at the same frequency. An isomeric level is identified at an excitation energy of 3100 keV (J^π=35/2⁻) which corresponds to this frequency. The lifetime of the level is found to be 8.6 ± 1.3 nanosecond. Received: 22 April 1997 / Revised version: 26 September 1997     

Identification of a high-K isomer in neutron-rich 185Ta

A t _1/2 > 1 ms, high-K isomeric state feeding a strongly coupled rotational band has been identified following the deep inelastic reaction ²³⁸ ₉₂U +¹⁸⁶ ₇₄W at 1600 MeV. Examination of γ-ray and X-ray data combined with a g-factor analysis derived from in-band branching ratios suggests the assignment of the new states to the neutron-rich nucleus ¹⁸⁵ ₇₃Ta. Received: 11 May 1999     

Yrast bands in N = 91 isotones

The in-beam spectroscopy on N = 91 isotones has been carried out using the ¹²C + ¹⁵⁰Nd reaction. The νi _13/2 and νh _11/2 bands of ¹⁵³Sm have been extended up to 33/2⁺ and 31/2^-, respectively. Two new γ-rays have been located on the top of the unfavored band with νi _13/2 configuration in ¹⁵⁷Dy. Two identical relationships have been established in the low-spin region of the yrast νi _13/2 configuration between ¹⁵³Sm and ¹⁵⁵Gd, and between unfavored bands of ¹⁵⁵Gd and ¹⁵⁷Dy. Here all these nuclei have the same neutron number N = 91. Received: 28 June 2000 / Accepted: 20 October 2000     

Terminating high-spin bands in 101Rh

High spin states of ¹⁰¹Rh have been populated using the reaction ⁷⁰Zn+³⁶S at 130 MeV. γ-rays were detected with the EUROGAM2 array. New high-spin bands have been observed in this nucleus up to 45/2⁻, 57/2⁻ and 65/2⁺ states. They have been interpreted using the Nilsson-Strutinsky cranking formalism as terminating configurations. Two of the bands were observed up to the predicted terminating states which are built up from g_9/2 protons as well as d_5/2, g_7/2 and h_11/2 neutrons relative to a ⁹⁰Zr core. Received: 30 October 1998     

Study of the first-excited K π=0+ and 2+ bands in 228Th in the 226Ra(α,2n) reaction

Excited bands of ²²⁸Th were studied in the ²²⁶Ra(α,2n) reaction by gamma-ray and conversion-electron spectroscopy. The first-excited K ^π=0⁺ and 2⁺ bands were identified up to I ^π= 12⁺ and 10⁺, respectively. The spin dependence of the moments of inertia is discussed. The experimental data indicate a structural change of these bands from ²²⁸Th to ²³⁰Th and ²³²Th. Received: 11 August 1997 / Revised version: 19 September 1997