Configuration assignments and decay of 126La high-spin bands

High spin states of ¹²⁶La have been populated using the reaction ¹¹⁶Sn+¹⁴N at 68 MeV. γ-rays and conversion electrons were detected with the GAREL array. Multipolarities of the lowest-lying in-band dipole transitions have been determined from the deduced internal conversion coefficients. Experimental B(M1)/B(E2) ratios have been derived for the bands and compared with calculated values using the D?nau-Frauendorf geometrical model. Configurations are proposed for the bands comparing them with cranked shell model calculations and on the basis of the measured B(M1)/B(E2) ratios. The β-decay of ¹²⁶La has also been revisited. The population of the ¹²⁶Ba levels gives a probable spin value of five for the decaying high-spin ¹²⁶La state with T _1/2≈ 64 s which may indicate a signature inversion in the πh_11/2νh_11/2 band. Received: 12 October 1999     

Measurement of the lifetime of the first 2+ state in 124Ba

The lifetime of the first 2⁺ state in the nucleus ¹²⁴Ba has been measured by γ-γ coincidence recoil-distance Doppler shift method. The ¹⁰⁹Ag(¹⁹F, 4n)¹²⁴Ba reaction at a beam energy of 75 MeV was employed to populate excited states in ¹²⁴Ba. The mean lifetime was determined to be 275(12) ps using the differential decay curve method. The value of B(E2;0₁ ⁺→ 2₁ ⁺) for ¹²⁴Ba deduced from the lifetime is in reasonable agreement with the prediction of the proton-neutron interacting boson model(IBM-2) without Pauli blocking effect. Received: 23 February 1998     

Systematics of related high-spin isomers in 144Sm and other N = 82 nuclei

An in-beam experiment with the reaction ¹²²Sn(²⁷Al,4np) at 127 MeV was performed at the Nordball multi-detector array in Roskilde. It provided evidence for a new high-spin isomer in ¹⁴⁴Sm. This isomer with T _1/2= (2.6 ± 0.5) ns at an excitation energy E _x= 9232 keV seems to belong to a family of isomers of similar configuration in neighbouring N= 82 nuclei. Received: 16 November 1997     

High spin states in 128Ba

High spin states in ¹²⁸Ba have been investigated with the fusion–evaporation reaction ⁹⁶Zr(³⁶S,4n)¹²⁸Ba at a beam energy of 150 MeV with the GASP-spectrometer at INFN in Legnaro, Italy. The level scheme could be extended to higher spins and six-quasiparticle states have been observed. The deduced alignments are compared to the predictions of previously reported cranked shell model calculations. Received: 4 January 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-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     

The angular distribution of the 12C(γ,pn) reaction for Eγ=120−150 MeV

The angular distribution of nucleons emitted in the ¹²C(γ,pn) reaction has been measured using tagged photons at the Mainz microtron MAMI. The variation of the reaction strength with the polar angles of the two emitted nucleons is reported for E_γ=120−150 MeV. The proton angular distribution peaks at more backward angles than the ²H(γ,p) differential cross section indicating a departure from the simple quasi-deuteron model of 2N photo-emission. The distribution shape is in reasonable agreement with microscopic theoretical models which include both π- and ρ-exchange. Received: 3 September 1997 / Revised version: 17 December 1997     

Simplex s = ±i excitations in 141Xe

Excited levels in ¹⁴¹Xe, populated in spontaneous fission of ²⁴⁸Cm, were studied by means of prompt -ray spectroscopy, using the EUROGAMM2 array. Level scheme of ¹⁴¹Xe obtained in this work shows patterns characteristic of simplex symmetry with s=+i and s=-i bands present but low value of D₀ moment indicates that octupole correlations in Xe isotopes are systematically lower than in Ba nuclei. Received: 9 March 2000 / Accepted: 4 May 2000     

Shape coexistence near the double-midshell nucleus 111Rh

The decay of ¹¹¹Ru obtained from fast on-line chemical and mass separation has been investigated by β-γ-t and γ-γ coincidence techniques. Earlier spin and parity assignments of ¹¹¹Rh levels based on extrapolations of level systematics are confirmed. In particular, the K=1/2 intruder band is supported by the hindrance of E2 transitions between deformed and spherical states and enhancement of intraband E2 transitions. The excitation energies of intruder band members in Rh isotopes show a minimum at ¹⁰⁹Rh₆₄, with two neutrons less than ¹¹¹Rh at the N=66 midshell. This trend, which differs from the one in the higher-Z neighbouring elements Ag and Cd with minima at N=66, follows the evolution of deformation observed in the lower-Z elements Ru and Mo. Received: 25 June 1997 / Revised version: 10 September 1997     

Lifetimes in the ground-state band and the structure of 118Te

Lifetimes of excited states in ¹¹⁸Te have been measured using the Doppler Shift Attenuation (DSA) and Recoil Distance (RD) methods in the ¹⁰⁹Ag(¹³C, p3n) reaction at a beam energy of 54 MeV. Lifetime values of the ground-state band levels with spins I ^π = 2⁺-16⁺ have been obtained. The excitation energies and B(E2) values are interpreted in the framework of a version of IBFM ( IBM + 2qp) with the maximum boson number exceeding its standard value. A satisfactory agreement with experimental level scheme and B(E2) values for the ground-state band is achieved. Received: 7 June 2001 / Accepted: 7 February 2002     

Lifetime measurement of the ((11/2)−) isomer in 125Cs

A new rotational band has been observed in ¹⁶⁷Lu by ¹⁵²Sm (¹⁹F,4n)reaction at the HI-13 tandem accelerator of CIAE in Beijing. The high spin transition energies of the new band are almost identical to the triaxial superdeformed bands recently discovered in ¹⁶³Lu and ¹⁶⁵Lu. This new band is predicted as a triaxial superdeformed band by total routhian surface calculations. Received: 6 October 1997     

High spin states and evidence for octupole correlations in 117Xe

High-spin states of ¹¹⁷Xe were investigated by means of in-beam γ-ray spectroscopic techniques via the reaction of ²⁸Si bombarding a ⁹²Mo target at beam energies of 100-120 MeV. A positive-parity rotational band decaying into the yrast negative-parity band by a series of enhanced E1 transitions was observed for the first time, implying the existence of octupole correlations in ¹¹⁷Xe. The B(E1) values increase with spin. The νd_5/2 band was firmly established up to 27/2⁺ and the B(M1)/B(E2) ratios were extracted from the relative intensities of γ-rays in this band. The previously known νh_11/2 and νg_7/2 [413]5/2⁺α=−1/2 bands were confirmed and extended up to high spins and two bandcrossings are observed in the latter at ħω=0.33 and 0.44 MeV, respectively. The bandcrossings and configurations of these bands are discussed by TRS and CSM calculations. In a γ–γ–t measurement, the 11/2⁻ and 7/2⁻ levels were identified as two isomers with half-lives of 59.4±20 ns and 16.5±8.0 ns, respectively. Received: 17 June 1997 / Revised version: 29 September 1997     

Half-lives of platinum isotopes from photoactivation

The half-lives of the platinum isotopes ^189,191,197Pt and of the 4-day isomer in ^195mPt have been measured with high precision using the photoactivation technique. The γ-ray activity was counted over several half-lives with a high-purity germanium detector. The measured half-lives are: T_1/2(¹⁸⁹Pt) = 12.1 ± 1.5 h; T_1/2(¹⁹¹Pt) = 2.862 ± 0.007 d; T_1/2(¹⁹⁷Pt) = 19.96 ± 0.05 h; T_1/2(^195mPt) = 4.0104 ± 0.0047 d. Received: 13 September 1999     

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     

In-beam spectroscopy of 126Ce and 127Pr

High spin states in ₁₂₆Ce and ₁₂₇Pr were populated via heavy ion reactions with 182-MeV ₃₅Cl projectiles on a thick ₉₆Ru target. Prompt γ–γ coincidences were measured. New states in ₁₂₆Ce and ₁₂₇Pr were found. The results are discussed in the framework of the core–quasiparticle coupling model. Received: 16 June 1998     

New states in heavy Cd isotopes and evidence for weakening of the N = 82 shell structure

A chemically selective laser ion source has been used in a β-decay study of heavy Ag isotopes into even-even Cd nuclides. Gamma-spectroscopic techniques in time-resolving event-by-event and multiscaling modes have permitted the identification of the first 2⁺ and 4⁺ levels in ¹²⁶Cd₇₈, ¹²⁸Cd₈₀, and tentatively the 2⁺ state in ¹³⁰Cd₈₂. From a comparison of these new states in ₄₈Cd with the E(2⁺) and E(4⁺)/E(2⁺) level systematics of ₄₆Pd and ₅₂Te isotopes and several recent model predictions, possible evidence for a weakening of the spherical N = 82 neutron-shell below double-magic ¹³²Sn is obtained. Received: 13 July 2000 / Accepted: 12 October 2000     

Evidence for deformation in <Superscript>113-116</Superscript>Cd isotopes

High-spin states in ^113-116Cd have been investigated with the fusion-fission reaction ²⁸Si +¹⁷⁶Yb at 145 > MeV. The experiment has been performed with the Eurogam2 array. New rotational bands based on two quasi-particle states have been observed for even-even cadmium isotopes. A new level scheme based on the 11/2⁻ isomeric state is proposed for ¹¹⁵Cd and the one of ¹¹³Cd has been extended to spin (31/2⁻). The decoupled bands identified in both odd-A nuclei are interpreted as being built upon a low-Ωh_11/2 quasi-neutron configuration. Microscopic Hartree-Fock + BCS calculations confirm the prolate deformation in this mass region especially for the odd cadmium isotopes. Received: 21 December 1999 / Revised version: 16 February 2000     

Five-quasiparticle bands in 127Ba

High spin states in ₁₂₇Ba have been investigated with the fusion–evaporation reaction ₉₆Zr(₃₆S,5n)₁₂₇Ba at a beam energy of 150 MeV with the GASP-spectrometer at INFN in Legnaro, Italy. The level scheme could be extended to high spins resulting in the observation of five-quasiparticle states. Altogether 15 band structures were placed in the level scheme. Received: 3 July 1998     

Decay modes of 24Mg excited at 46.4 MeV

⁸Be_gs coincidences with ¹²C, ⁸Be_gs and α-particles produced in the ¹²C +¹²C interaction at 65 MeV have been measured in a wide in-plane angular range. The 3 −⁸Be_gs final state is found to be produced, even if poor statistics prevent any identification of the ¹⁶O states involved in the first stage of the process. The ⁸Be_gs−α and ⁸Be_gs−¹²C coincidence yields are found to be due to ¹²C and ¹⁶O excited states, decaying into the ⁸Be_gs+α and ¹²C +α systems, respectively. Received: 15 June 1998 / Revised version: 4 December 1998