High-spin levels in137,139Ce and139,141Nd evidence for hole-core coupling

Excited states of the¹³⁷Ce,¹³⁹Ce,¹³⁹Nd and¹⁴¹Nd nuclei have been studied using the¹³⁸Ba(α, 5nγ)¹³⁷Ce,¹³⁸Ba(³He, 4nγ)¹³⁷Ce,¹³⁸Ba(α, 3nγ)¹³⁹Ce,¹⁴⁰Ce(α, 5nγ)¹³⁹Nd,¹⁴⁰Ce(³He,4nγ)¹³⁹Nd,¹⁴⁰Ce(α, 3nγ)¹⁴¹Nd and¹⁴²Ce(α, 5nγ)¹⁴¹Nd reactions. Singlesγ-ray spectra,γ —γ coincidence spectra, angular distributions and time distributions ofγ-rays with respect to beam pulses have been measured. Gamma transitions between excited states with spin values up to 21/2, 23/2 or 25/2 have been observed. Isomeric states with T_1/2=70 ns have been observed in¹³⁹Ce at 2631.5 keV (19/2) and in¹⁴¹Nd probably at 2952.0 keV (19/2). The level structure observed in the nuclei studied can be explained if the neutron-holes are coupled to the doubly even core excitations. The coupling of theh _11/2 neutron-hole with the 2⁺, 4⁺ and 3^? collective excitations are calculated in terms of the weak and intermediate coupling models. The intermediate coupling results seem to be in better agreement with the experimental data. The energies of theree-particle states, being the result of the coupling of theh _11/2 neutron-hole with the two-proton excitations in the core, are well reproduced in the calculations when empirical values of the two-body interaction matrix elements were used.     

Innere Konversion der 161 keV- und 223 keV-Übergänge in133Cs

Using a Ge(Li)-Si (Li)-spectrometer the 161 keV and 223 keV transitions of¹³³Cs were investigated. TheK-conversion coefficients were deduced to beα _K =0.205±0.007 andK-conversion coefficients were deduced to beα _K =0.0743±0.0043, respectively. TheK/L ratio for the 161 keV transition is 4.72±0.37. From theK-conversion coefficients were deduced to beα _K -values,M1 penetration factors ofλ=8.6±3.4 andλ=7.8 _?2.8 ^3.0 were deduced which are inconsistent with known data from angular correlation experiments (λ=40±10 andλ=90±13). The penetration factor fromK/L-measurement for the 161 keV-transition isλ=52±19. A theoretical reinvestigation of the formulas used in the literature appears recommendable. Furthermore, theK/L ratio of the 1770 keV transition of²⁰⁷Pb was determined experimentally to be 5.52±0.54.     

Konversionskoeffizienten und Fluoreszenzausbeuten beim Zerfall des Ir192m und Co58m

With a proportionalcounter and an anthracene-crystal-spectrometer theL-X-ray- and the conversion-electron-spectra of \(Ir^{192_{m_1 } } \) were measured. TheL-fluorescenceyield of iridium was found to beω _L=0.30±0.04. The partial fluorescence-yields of theL ₂- andL ₃-subshells could be determined:ω _L2 =0.35±0.14 andω _L3 =0.29±0.04. The conversion-coefficients for the isomeric transition of \(Ir^{192_{m_1 } } \) were also measured:α _L =1660±250 andα _L +α _M =2030±230. The spectra of the conversion-electrons of the 25 keV-isomeric transition of \(Co^{58_m } \) were measured with a methane-filled proportionalcounter, and theγ- and X-rays with a Nal-scintillation-spectrometer. The conversion-coefficients for this transition and theK-fluorescence-yield of cobalt were found to beα _K =2000±260,α _L+M =890±150,K/(L+M)=2.25±0.15,α _K =0.34±0.02.     

Die isomeren Atomkerne: Yb169m,Yb175m,Yb177m

Short lived isomers of Yb were produced by neutron irradiation of enriched isotopes and have been investigated with the aid of scintillation spectrometers. Yb^169m decays with a half-life ofT _1/2=(46±2) sec emitting only L-radiation. This decay is assumed to be the same as the E 3-transition of 24 keV following the electron capture of Lu¹⁶⁹. Yb^175m [T _1/2=(0,072±0,005) sec] emitsγ-rays of (495±15) keV. The measured K-conversion coefficientα _{K 495}=0,24±0,04 and the total conversion coefficientα _{4 5}=0,6±0,3 indicate the transition to be M3. Yb^177m [T _1/2=(6,4±0,1) sec] decays by a cascade of twoγ-rays. The isomeric (228±3) keV-transition is followed by a (104±1,5) keV-radiation. The measured conversion coefficients areα _{K 228}=4,1±0,4 andα _{K 228}=6,5±0,5 for the first transition andα _{K 104}=0,39±0,05 andα ₁₀₄=0,51±0,05 for the second, indicating a M3-E1-cascade. For the M 3-transition the measured coefficients agree well with those calculated for a nucleus of finite size, but they differ by a factor of 1,5 for the E1-transition.     

Der Zerfall des125m Xe,des127m Xe und des127g Xe

The decay of^125m Xe produced by the reaction¹²²Te(α, n)^125m Xe using a target enriched in¹²²Te (95.4%) and the decay of^127m Xe produced by the reaction¹²⁷J(d, 2n)^127m Xe have been investigated: ^125m Xe decays with a half-life ofT _1/2=(56±3) sec by ayy- cascade withE _γ1=(140.4 ±0.5) keV andE _γ2=(110.5 ±0.5) keV. The experimental conversion coefficients yield multipolarities ofE3 for the 140.4 keV isomeric transition and predominantlyM1 for the 110.5 keV-transition. ^127m Xe decays with a half-life ofT _1/2=(71±2) sec. The decay also proceeds by aγγ-cascade with an isomeric E3 transition ofE _γ1=(172.5±0.3) keV and a predominantlyM1 transition ofE _γ2=(124.6±0.3) keV. In the decay of^127g Xe an additional branching of the electron capture to a level at (618.1±0.3) keV was observed. The relative probability forK-captureP _K618/P_K375=0.40 ±0.07 yields a total transition energyQ _EC=(664 ±4)keV. A spin of 1/2⁺ was assigned to the ground state.     

Decay studies of101m Rh and101g Rh

The level structure of¹⁰¹Ru has been investigated from the decays of^101m Rh and^101g Rh. For the gamma-ray measurements Ge(Li) detectors with effective volumes of 24 and 43 cm³ were used for singles and coincidence work, and several new transitions were observed. Conversion electron spectra from the^101m Rh decay were investigated with a 50 cm double-focussing beta spectrometer.K-conversion coefficients were determined by combining internal conversion and gamma-ray intensities. For the stronger transitions probable multipolarity assignments have been obtained from these coefficients and also fromK/L andL-subshell ratios. All transitions observed were fitted into a decay scheme, in which tentative spin-parity assignments of all states are given.     

Quasirotational groundstate bands of even-even nuclei with 50≦N,Z≦82

The quasirotational groundstate bands of¹⁴⁰Sm,¹⁴²Sm,¹⁴⁴Gd and¹³⁶Nd have been determined by studying the prompt γ-decay after (α,xn+yp+zα.) reactions using α-particles of up to 104 MeV and targets of¹⁴⁴Sm,¹⁴²Nd,¹⁴¹Pr,¹⁴⁰Ce,¹³⁶Ce and¹³⁹La. The new levels continue the trends of the neighbouring even-even nuclides smoothly. These systematics of the groundstate bands in the region 50<N,Z<82 are not disturbed by expected subshell closure effects.     

K-Konversionskoeffizient nahe derK-Bindungsenergie,gemessen am174m Lu

TheK conversion coefficient of the 67.075 keV-transition of^174m Lu has been measured to beα _K=11.01 ±0.44. The half-life of^174m Lu and relativeγ-intensities were also determined.     

The decay of141Ce

The decay of¹⁴¹Ce has been reinvestigated using different experimental methods. The efficiency extrapolation technique applied to 4πβ —γ coincidence measurements has been employed for the determination of the disintegration rate of the sources and of the total internal conversion coefficient. TheK X-ray andγ-ray emisssion rates have been measured with a calibrated Si(Li) and an intrinsic germanium detector. Additionally the photon intensities have been determined from the internal conversion coefficients. Electron experiments with a magneticβ-spectrometer yielded the relative intensities, the shape factors and the maximum energies of the two β^?-transitions and the internal conversion ratiosK/L andK/(L + M+...). TheK-shell internal conversion probability has been determined with an electronK X-ray coincidence technique using the magneticβ-spectrometer together with a high energy resolution Si(Li) detector. New values for the following decay properties have been deduced:β ^?-intensities (p ₁ =0.306 + 0.006,p ₂= 0.694±0.006), shape factorsC = const (1+Aε) (A ₁ = ?(0.24±0.03),A ₂=?(0.22±0.04)), maximumβ ^?-energies (E ₀₁ = (582.2±2.6) keV,E ₀₂= (436.7±4.6) keV),K- shell internal conversion coefficient (α _K = 0.376±0.008), total internal conversion coefficient (α = 0.438±0.010), internal conversion ratios (K/L = 7.29±0.24, K/(L + M + ...) = 5.78±0.18),γ-ray intensity (I _γ = 0.482±0.003),K X-ray intensity (I_{K X} = 0.168±0.002) and the photon intensity ratio (I _{K X} /I _γ = 0.349±0.005). The procedure of uncertainty quotation is presented in some detail. The results are discussed with respect to existing experimental data.     

Determination of theK-shell electron capture probabilityP K in the decay of139Ce

A new coincidence procedure for the determination of theK-shell electron capture probability in simpleEC decays is described. By measuringγ-rays andK-shell conversion electrons separately and in coincidence with theK X-rays theK capture probability can be deduced only from counting rates. The method has been applied to¹³⁹Ce. The result ofP _K = 0.726±0.010 is in fairly good agreement with other experimental values reported previously.     

K-capture probability in the decay of139Ce(137.5d)

The K-capture probability (P _K) in the decay of¹³⁹Ce (137.5d) has been determined from the analysis of the K x-ray gamma ray sum-peak observed with a Ge (Li) x-ray detector. Furthermore,P _K is estimated independently from the measurement of the K x-ray intensity in the decay, using the known conversion coefficients of the 165.8 keV transition. Using the weighted average ofP _K measured as above, the mass difference between¹³⁹Ce and¹³⁹La is found to be 273 _?13 ⁺²¹ keV.     

Konversionskoeffizienten und Fluoreszenzausbeuten beim Zerfall des Hg199m

Hg^199m was produced by bombarding natural HgO with fast neutrons. The conversion electrons of the cascade decay were investigated with Si(Li)-counters. By application of the summing technique the conversion coefficients andL-shell fluorescence yields of Hg were determined. The gamma rays were studied with a Ge(Li)-counter. The following results were obtained: half-lifeT _1/2=(42.6± 0.2) min; energies of the transitionsE _γ1=(374.1± 0.1) keV,E _γ1=(158.3± 0.1)keV; intensity ratio of the gamma raysI _γ(158 keV):I _γ(374keV)=(424± 42):100; conversion coefficients α_K158=0.30± 0.03, α_total158=0.94± 0.09, α_K158/α_LM...158=0.47± 0.02, α_L158/α_M...158=3.10± 0.16;α_K374=3.51± 0.28,α_total1374=6.19±0.47,α_K374/α_LM...374=1.32±0.04, α_L374/α_M...374=2.14±0.11;L-shell fluorescence yields \(\bar \omega _L \) =0.40± 0.04, ω_KL=0.41±0.04.     

Konversionskoeffizient von69m Zn und Fluoreszenzausbeute von Zink

The decay of^69m Zn and⁶⁹Zn has been investigated using a radioactive source obtained by irradiating a sample of 99%⁶⁸ZnO with neutrons. Theβ-spectrum of⁶⁹Zn and the conversion electrons of the^69m Zn decay have been studied with an anthracene scintillation spectrometer of the split crystal type. The measured value of the conversion coefficient of^69m Zn is α=0.054±0.003. With this result and those obtained by measurement of theγ-ray spectra of^69m Zn with NaI(Tl) scintillation crystals, theK-fluorescent yield of Zn has been determined to be ω_K=0.45±0.04.     

TheK-shell conversion coefficient of the 135.5 keVM4 transition in193m Pt decay

TheK conversion coefficient of the 135.5 keVM4 transition in^193m pt has been determined by the XPG method. The result isα _K =135.2±10.5 and the value exhibits a deviation 3.4% below the theoretical prediction of Hager and Seltzer. Similar deviations have been systematically observed in precision values ofE3 andM4 conversion coefficients reported in the literature.     

Internal conversion coefficients and penetration effect for the 279 keV transition in203Tl

The internal conversion process of theM1+E 2 mixed 279 keVγ-ray transition in the decay of²⁰³Hg has been reinvestigated. The emission rate of theK-shell internal conversion electrons was determined with an electron X-ray coincidence measurement using a magneticΒ-spectrometer and a Si(Li) detector of high energy resolution. Conversion electron ratios were obtained from electron spectra recorded as a function of momentum. The disintegration rate has been taken from measurements with a calibrated NaI(Tl)γ-ray spectrometer. Following results have been deduced: α=0.2279±0.0024, α _K =0.1653±0.0017, α _L =0.0475±0.0013,K/(L+M+?)=2.64±0.03,K/L=3.48±0.12,L/(M+N+ ?)=3.14±0.12. On the basis of the experimental results on theK-shell internal conversion coefficient,α _k , and the conversion ratioK/(L+M+?) the penetration effect on the internal conversion of theM1 part and the mixing ratio,δ ², of the 279 keVγ-ray transition in²⁰³Tl have been studied. Calculations were made using Hager and Seltzer's formalism and their theoretical internal conversion coefficients. The results are consistent with a mixing ratio ofδ ²=1.32±0.11 and a penetration parameter ofλ=6.8 ±0.8.     

Messungen derK-Konversionskoeffizienten und der Aktivierungsquerschnitte der isomeren Atomkerne Se77m,Se79m,Ge75m und Ge77m

TheK-conversion coefficients α _K of the nuclear isomers Se^77m , Se^79m , Ge^75m and Ge^77m have been measured by detecting theK-röntgen- andγ-radiation from neutron-irradiated Se- and GeO₂-samples with the aid of scintillation counters to be α _K =0.79±0.06, 7.4±0.6, 1.44±0.13, and 1.2±0.6, respectively. In all cases, the values obtained, are in agreement with those taken from the tables ofRose under the assumption of anE3-transition, thus confirming this assignment which was proposed earlier by other authors. In addition, the cross sectionsσ for inducing the activities by slowed down neutrons have been measured to beσ=22±2, 0.40±0.04, 0.20±0.02, and 0.12±0.03 barns, respectively, and are compared with earlier data of several authors.     

DieK-ElektroneneinfangwahrscheinlichkeitP K beim Zerfall von139Ce

TheK-Shell Electron-Capture ProbabilityP _K for the Electron Capture of¹³⁹Ce has been measured using the coincidence method. The detectors used have been a NaJ(Tl)-detector with Be-window for the Lanthan-X-ray, a Ge(Li)- and a 76.2 mm Ø×76.2 mm-NaJ(Tl)-detector for the 166 keV-γ-ray. The escape-effect of the Lanthan-X-ray in the NaJ(Tl)-detector was investigated. The experimental results areP _K Ω_K= 0.726±0.010 andP _K =0.801±0.034 using Ω_K=0.906±0.026.     

Der Zerfall des Tb158m

Tb^158m was produced from Tb¹⁵⁹ by (n, 2n) reaction and investigated using scintillation spectrometers. The following results were obtained: half-life\(T_{\tfrac{1}{2}} = (10.5 \pm 0.2)\) sec; energy of the isomeric transitionE _γ =(109.9±1.4) keV; conversion coefficients α _K =56±3; α _L +α _M +?=50±8; α_total=106±10;K/L-ratioK/L=1.3±0.3, yielding the multipole order of the isomeric transition to beM3. Upper limits for the direct beta transitions from the isomeric state to the ground states of the neighbouring even-even nuclei Gd¹⁵⁸ and Dy¹⁵⁸ are 10^?4 and 6·10^?3, respectively.     

Der Zerfall des Co60m und Zr90m

Co^60m was produced by the reaction Co⁵⁹ (n,γ) Co^60m ; its decay has been investigated by scintillation spectrometers. The half-period has been remeasured yielding a value ofT _1/2=(10·35 ±0·20) min. The isomeric decay mainly leads to the Co⁶⁰ ground state by a (58·6±0·6) keV transition. TheK-conversion coefficientα _K= 41±3 and the total conversion coefficientα=47±3 indicate the transition to beM3 and the spin of Co^60m to be 2⁺. Further Co^60m decays by beta transitions to Ni⁶⁰. The beta component (8·6±1·2)·10^?3%, log ft=7·32 leading to a (2·16±0·02) MeV level has been measured for the first time. A second component (0·24±0·03)%, log ft=7·23 leads to the 1·33 MeV level. The 2·16 MeV level decays to the Ni⁶⁰ ground state mainly by a 0·83–1·33 MeV cascade, in a few cases by a direct transition. The spin of the 2·16 MeV level is 2⁺. Zr^90m was produced by the reaction Zr⁹⁰ (n,n′) Zr^90m . The half-period was measured yielding a value ofT _1/2=(0·83±0·03) sec. Zr^90m decays in the following way: (77±5) % by a direct (2·31±0·02) MeV —E 5 transition to the Zr ground state and (23±5)% by a (132·5±1·5) keV-(2·18±0·03) MeV cascade detected for the first time in the isomeric decay. TheK-conversion coefficient of the 132·5 keV transition isα _k=(2·2±0·3) indicating this transition to beE3 and the spin of the 2·18 MeV level to be 2⁺. The Zr^90m -decay sheme is in accordance with the level sequence of Zr⁹⁰ as measured in the Nb⁹⁰ decay.     

Die Konversion des86mRb

^86mRb was produced by irradiation of natural Rb and Rb enriched in⁸⁷Rb (99.2%) with fast neutrons. The half-life ofT _1/2=(61.2±1.0) sec and the energy ofE _ρ=(556.03±0.25) keV were remeasured. The experimental conversion coefficients α_tot=0.0184±0.0015 andα _K =0.0158±0.0015 yield the multipolarity of E4 for the isomeric transition. The spin of 6^? was assigned to the isomeric state. It is proposed that the spin 6^? is formed by coupling ap _3/2-proton and ag _9/2-neutron according to Nordheim's “weak” rule.