Identification of180Pb

Theα decay of the new isotope¹⁸⁰Pb was observed in⁴⁰Ca bombardments of¹⁴⁴Sm:E _α = 7.23(4)MeV, and,T _1/2=(4 _?2 ⁺⁴ )ms. With this decay energy and the known mass of¹⁷⁶Hg, the mass excess of¹⁸⁰Pb was calculated to be ?1.98(5)MeV.     

Theα- andβ-decay of187Pb

Sources of¹⁸⁷Pb were produced by the¹⁴²Nd(⁴⁸Ti, 3n)¹⁸⁷Pb reaction followed by online mass separation of the products. Measurements ofγ-γ andα-γ coincidences and half-lives were performed. Twoα-emitting states in¹⁸⁷Pb were found with half-lives of 15.2±0.3 s and 18.3±0.3 s, respectively. Theα-γ coincidences yielded excitation energy and possible spin values for a few levels in¹⁸³Hg. Gamma-transitions in¹⁸⁷Tl were identified and a level scheme for¹⁸⁷Tl is proposed on the basis of the coincidence relationships and the level systematics of the heavier odd-thallium isotopes.     

Reinvestigation of the decay scheme of the short-lived isomeric states in112In

The two short-lived isomeric states in¹¹²In have been reinvestigated by means of the¹¹²Cd(d, 2n) and¹⁰⁹Ag (α, n) reactions. Measurements of delayed X- andγ-ray, lifetime and TDPAD spectra have been performed. A 6.32(3) keVγ-ray has been identified in the isomeric decay and anM1 multipolarity has been assigned to it on the basis of the measured internal conversion coefficients:α _L =196(39) andα _tot=231(35). TheE1+M2(δ =+0.24(4)) andE2 multipolarities have been determined for the 263 and 188 keV transitions deexciting the 8^?(T _1/2=2.82(2) μs) and 7⁺ (T _1/2=0.93(2) μs) isomeric states, respectively. A revised isomeric decay scheme is presented.     

164Ta,identification of a new isotope

The new isotope¹⁶⁴Ta (T _1/2=13.6(2)s) was produced in the¹²⁷I(⁴⁰Ca, 3n) reaction and transported to a measuring station by helium jet. Decay properties were observed withα, γ, andγ-γ spectroscopy. TheZ assignment of the new isotope was based ongg-X-ray coincidence measurements. The mass assignment was deduced from measured excitation functions. The twoγ rays assigned to the new activity most likely originate from the 4⁺→2⁺→0⁺ decay sequence in¹⁶⁴Hf. A smallα branch, ≦0.016(5)%, with anα decay energy ofE _α=4,625(15) keV was found and assigned to the decay of¹⁶⁴Ta. The deduced upper limit of theα width for this branch,W _α≦0.6(2), is in accordance with those known for neighbouring nuclei.     

Properties of8Be and12C deduced from the folding-potential model

Theα-α differential cross sections are analyzed in the optical model using a double-folded potential. With the knowledge of this potential bound and resonance-state properties ofα-cluster states in⁸Be and¹²C as well as astrophysical S-factors of⁴He(α,γ)⁸Be and⁸Be(α,γ)¹²C are calculated. Γ_γ-widths and B(E2)-values are deduced.     

The alpha-branching ratios of the188,190,192Pb isotopes

Theα-branching ratios (b _α ) of^192,190,188Pb are measured using mass-separated sources. Different experimental set-ups are used — one detector as well as two detector set-ups — thereby detecting theα particles from the parent and/or viaα decay formed daughter nuclei, theβ-delayed gamma radiation from the parent and/or viaβ decay formed daughter nuclei and the Tl KX rays from electron capture decay. Values forb _α of 6.2(6) 10^?5 and 4.0(4) 10^-3 were found for^192,190Pb respectively. For¹⁸⁸Pb, limits on theb _α values were obtained: 0.03<b _α <0.10. A careful analysis of the previously reportedb _α values showed that the discrepancies in theb _α values were not due to inadequate correction procedures, as was suggested, but to experimental uncertainties in the efficiency determination of the different detection set-ups and to an unreliableβ-decay scheme for¹⁸⁸Pb. Theb _α obtained in this work show that the leadα decay is not faster than the Hgα decay and that there is no need to assume a disappearance of theZ=82 shell closure halfway betweenN=82 andN=126.     

Properties of the 13/2+ isomeric decay in201Hg

The isomeric decay of theT _1/2=94 us isomeric state in²⁰¹Hg was studied in beam via the reaction¹⁹⁸Pt(α, n). Gamma-ray and conversion-electron spectra were recorded. From the conversion coefficients, the multipolarities of the two depopulating transitions were determined to beM 2 + 10%E 3 andE 2, respectively. These assignments give the depopulating transitions to be 13/2⁺ → 9/2^? and 9/2^? → 5/2^?, and these thus substantiate the previous suggestion that the isomeric state hasJ ^π=13/2⁺. For the 13/2⁺ → 9/2^? M 2 transition a detailed study ofE 3 andM 4 admixed amplitudes was done. The microscopic properties of the 13/2⁺ and 9/2^? states are discussed, and a comparison to the corresponding ones in^199,203,205Hg is made.     

Theβ-decay of100Y: Discovery of a very low lying 0+ state in100Zr

Theβ-decay of¹⁰⁰Y has been investigated at the gas filled recoil separator JOSEF by means ofγ-ray and conversion electron spectroscopy. Twoβ-decay modes, of half lives 0.94±0.03 s and 0.55±0.15 s, have been observed. Using Xγ-, Xce-, γγ- andγce-coincidences the level scheme of¹⁰⁰Zr has been constructed. An excited 0 ₂ ⁺ state at 331.3 keV has been discovered in this nucleus. Theβ-decay from the 0.55 s decay mode in¹⁰⁰Y shows a strong preference for the ground state compared to the 0 ₂ ⁺ state in¹⁰⁰Zr. The structure of¹⁰⁰Zr and the nature of the 0 ₂ ⁺ level is discussed in the light of the present results.     

g-factors of the lowest 2+ and 4+ states in198, 200, 202Hg

Theg-factors of the 2 ₁ ⁺ and 4 ₁ ⁺ states in^198,200,202Hg were simultaneously measured by means of the transient-field perturbed angular correlation method in Coulomb excitation using multi-isotopic targets and thin polarized Gd foils as ferromagnetic host. Theg(2 ₁ ⁺ ) andg(4 ₁ ⁺ ) were found identical within errors in^{198, 200}Hg, while in²⁰⁰Hg lowerg-factor values have been determined. The experimentalg-factors were compared with the predictions of the pairing-plus-quadrupole, dynamical deformation and interacting boson models.     

High spin states in205Pb and a precision test of the nuclear shell model for three nucleons

Using the²⁰⁴Hg(α, 3n) reaction withα-particles of about 40 MeV, we have proved by applying nowadays conventionalγ-ray spectroscopy in-beam technique, that there are two isomeric states in²⁰⁵Pb at the excitation energies 5,161.3 and 3,195.5 keV having the half-lives 71±3 and 217±5 ns, respectively. These isomeric states have spins and parities 33/2⁺ and 25/2^? and are mainly due to thei ₁₃ ^2/?3 andi ₁₃ ^2/?2 p ₁ ^2/?1 configurations, respectively. This conclusion is supported by the experimentalg-factors of these states being ?0.159±0.008 and ?0.0676±0.0011, respectively. It is furthermore shown that theE2 effective neutron charge is the same forE2 transitions from the 33/2⁺ state in²⁰⁵Pb and from the 12⁺ state in²⁰⁶Pb as required by the assumption that the²⁰⁸Pb core is responsible for the totalE2 strength of the neutron holes, and that these states are due to thei ₁₃ ^2/?3 andi ₁₃ ^2/?2 configurations. The calculatedB(E3) values ofE3 transitions from isomeric states in²⁰⁵Pb and²⁰⁶Pb agree reasonably well with the experimental values as expected from the assumption that theE3-strength should come from particle coupling to the octupole states of the²⁰⁸Pb core. The energies of the six most well established excited states in²⁰⁵Pb with angular momenta in the region 19/2–33/2 were calculated using empirical single-particle energies, empirical two-particle interactions and angular momentum algebra. The average deviation between experimental and calculated energies is ?3 keV and the root mean square deviation 6 keV as compared to the uncertainty ± 5 keV in the nuclear masses used in the calculation. For the orbits concerned the shell model is thus valid with an extremely high precision. The contribution of effective three-particle interaction in these orbits must consequently be less than about 5 keV.     

Fragmented 2d 5/2, 1g 7/2 and 1g 9/2 deep proton-hole states of207TI

The three proton-hole states ?2d_5/2, 1g_7/2 and 1g_9/2 are found to be fragmented as a result of coupling of these states with the 3^?, 5^?, 2⁺, 4⁺ and 6⁺ collective states of²⁰⁸Pb. The excited states in²⁰⁸Pb (t,α) reaction can be quantitatively explained in terms of altered 2d_5/2, 1g_7/2 and 1g_9/2 states with the hole-core coupling model.     

Particle plus octupoleM2/E3 isomers and high-spin particle-hole states in147Tb and148Tb

The level structures of theN=82 andN=83 nuclei¹⁴⁷Tb and¹⁴⁸Tb have been studied by means of (α, 8n) and (α,7n) reactions induced by 68 to 110 MeVα particle bombardments of¹⁵¹Eu targets. In-beam conversion electron measurements have established that isomers withT _1/2=4.8(6)ns in¹⁴⁷Tb andT _1/2=22(1)ns in¹⁴⁸Tb decay byM2+E3 transitions to the ground states. The measuredB(E3) values show that the isomeric states arise from the coupling of the valence nucleon(s) to the¹⁴⁶Gd core octupole. Particlephonon coupling in these nuclei and in the one-neutron nucleus¹⁴⁷Gd is discussed and compared with well known cases involving the²⁰⁸Pb core. The higher lying yrast states in the two Tb nuclei are described as shell-model particle-hole excitations using empirical single particle energies and nucleon-nucleon interactions.     

The decay scheme of the 3-s Isomer of100Nb and the properties of levels in100Mo

Theβ ^? decay of the longer-lived isomer in¹⁰⁰Nb has been studied at the fission-product separator JOSEF. Measurements ofγ-ray singles spectra, ofγ-γ coincidences and ofγ-γ angular correlations have been performed. A value oft _1/2=2.99(11)s has been determined for the isomer which probably hasI ^π=4⁺ or 5⁺. A scheme of the levels of¹⁰⁰Mo which are populated in the decay of this isomer has been established. Information on the spins of several states of¹⁰⁰Mo has been obtained. Thus,I=0 levels have been identified at 1,505, 2,038 and 2,087 keV. The mixing ratios have been determined for the 2₂ ⁺→2₁ ⁺ and 2₃ ⁺→2₁ ⁺ transitions. The results provide evidence for a vibrational structure of¹⁰⁰Mo with separate bands based on the ground state and on the first excited 0⁺ level.     

Alpha decay properties of199Rn and199mRn

Theα-decays of¹⁹⁹Rn (E _α = (6.989±0.010) MeV,T _1/2>300ms) and of^199m Rn (E _α = (7.060±0.015) MeVT _1/2=(61 _?2 ⁺³² ) ms) were identified by anα-α-correlation method. They proceed via separated decay paths to¹⁹⁵Po and^195m Po, respectively. The spins of the involved states are discussed by aid of the shell model, and a tentative spin assignment is given.     

Decay characteristics of 0 2 + and 0 3 + states in112Cd and114Cd

Absolute rates ofE0 andE2 transitions depopulating 0 ₂ ⁺ and 0 ₃ ⁺ states in¹¹²Cd and¹¹⁴Cd have been determined using conversion-electron andγ-ray spectroscopy, and double Coulomb excitation. The collectivity of these states is established and discussed.     

Proton states in193Ir and195Ir populated via the (α) reaction

The nuclear structures of¹⁹³Ir and¹⁹⁵Ir have been studied using the¹⁹⁴Pt(t, α) and¹⁹⁶Pt(t, α) reactions. Levels up to ～2MeV in excitation energy were studied with a resolution of ～13keV (FWHM) and spectroscopic strengths were extracted. The low-lying states in¹⁹³Ir have been interpreted in terms of both the Nilsson and the rotation-vibration models including Coriolis, particle-vibration and rotation-vibrational couplings. The previously assigned 3/2⁺ [402], 11/2^? [505], 1/2⁺[400] and 1/2⁺[411] bands were populated and candidates for the 5/2⁺ [402] and 7/2⁺ [404] bandheads were observed. TheK ₀ +2 gamma vibration based on the ground state was populated because it is mixed with the 7/2⁺ [404] state. Surprisingly, there was no significant difference between the stripping and pick-up strengths for the low-lying states in¹⁹³Ir, suggesting that the equilibrium nuclear shape of¹⁹³Ir has large overlaps with the shapes of both¹⁹²Os and¹⁹⁴Pt. The nuclear level structure of¹⁹⁵Ir appears to be similar to those of the lighter iridium isotopes.     

Investigation of203, 205Hg with the (d,pγ) reaction — Identification of thei 13/2 neutron hole state in205Hg

Low lying levels in²⁰³Hg and²⁰⁵Hg were studied with the (d, p) deuteron break-up reaction atE _d=14 and 18 MeV. Gamma-rays and conversion-electrons were measured in coincidence with protons. In addition delayed spectra were recorded with us and ms beam pulsing. Thei _13/2 neutron hole state was identified in²⁰⁵Hg and confirmed in²⁰³Hg. The known level structure of²⁰⁵Hg below 2 MeV is confirmed and extended. For²⁰³Hg we observe theγ-decay of several levels below 1.5 MeV, which were previously known from transfer reactions.     

Level structure of106Mo

The level scheme of the very neutron rich nucleus ₁₀₆ ⁴² Mo₆₄ has been studied for the first time through theβ decay of¹⁰⁶Nb. Six new excited states were observed inγ singles andγ-γ coincidence experiments in addition to the 2⁺, 4⁺ and 6⁺ members of the ground state band. The excitation energies and the deexcitation pattern suggest the interpretation of the levels at 710, 885 and 956 keV as the 2 ₂ ⁺ , 3 ₁ ⁺ and 0 ₂ ⁺ states, respectively. The data support the assumption of a non-axial deformation of¹⁰⁶Mo. A half-life of (1.02±0.05) s has been determined for theβ decay of¹⁰⁶Nb.     

Observation of the isotopes264108 and265108

The experiment having led to the discovery of first isotopes of element 108, as published previously in Short Notes to this Journal [1, 2] are described and discussed in a final paper. Two isotopes of element 108 were produced by complete fusion of²⁰⁷Pb and²⁰⁸Pb, respectively, with⁵⁸Fe. Both isotopes areα-emitters. For the isotope with mass 265 threeα-decay sequences were observed. Theα-decay energy is (10.36±0.03) MeV, the half-life (1.8 _?0.7 ^+2.2 ) ms. For the isotope with mass 264, which is the heaviest doubly even isotope known at present, the decay sequence of one atom was found. The measured half-life is (76 _?36 ⁺³⁶⁴ ) μs. Our experimental results point towards an enhanced stability of the heaviest elements against spontaneous fission, which was already observed for element 106.     

Decay of the134Cs isomers and the levels of134Xe,134Cs,and134Ba

A precision study of the decay of¹³⁴Cs ^g and¹³⁴Cs ^m has been made, using ordinary Ge(Li) spectrometers and ā Compton-suppression spectrometer. The logft value of the second forbidden nonuniqueβ-decay to¹³⁴Xe has been measured to be 13.0±0.2. TheM4γ-ray transition in¹³⁴Cs^m(8^?) decay has been measured to haveα _K= 73±7 and a hindrance of 7.0 over the Moskowski estimate. This is discussed in terms of the level configurations and the analogous transition in¹³³Xe. A new intensity limit of 2×10^?6 has been set for the zero-phonon transition between the 4⁺ and 2⁺ members of the two-phonon triplet. This leads to an upper limit forB(E2)_4→2′, greater than 905. This and the more preciseγ-ray intensity values are discussed in relation to presently available nuclear models.