Observation of superdeformed states in 88Mo

High-spin states in ⁸⁸Mo were studied using the Gammasphere germanium detector array in conjunction with the Microball CsI(Tl) charged-particle detector system. Three γ-ray cascades with dynamic moments of inertia showing similar characteristics to superdeformed rotational bands observed in the neighbouring A= 80 region have been identified and assigned to the nucleus ⁸⁸Mo. The quadrupole moment of the strongest band, deduced by the Residual Doppler Shift Method, corresponds to a quadrupole deformation of β₂≈ 0.6. This confirms the superdeformed nature of this band. The experimental data are interpreted in the framework of total routhian surface calculations. All three bands are assigned to two-quasi-particle proton configurations at superdeformed shape. Received: 20 May 1999 / Revised version: 25 August 1999     

High-spin states in <Superscript>36</Superscript>Ar and their underlying shell model configurations

Eight high-spin states in ³⁶Ar below 10MeV excitation energy, among them a prospective J ^π = 8^- state at 9408keV and the J? 8 levels of the recently discovered superdeformed rotational band, have been observed by n-γ coincidence measurements with the ³³S(α, nγ) reaction at E _α = 14.4 and 13.4MeV. High-spin assignments of, respectively, J ^π = 6⁺ and 5^- were obtained for the E _p = 1209 and 1462keV (E _x = 9682 and 9927keV) resonances of the ³⁵Cl (p,γ) reaction by a measurement of γ-ray angular distributions. The spectrum of the high-spin and of the E _x? 7.4MeV levels is decomposed according to the underlying shell model configurations with n = 0, 1, 2, 4 particles excited from the N = 2 into the N = 3 major shell. The role of four-particle excitations, all connected with large prolate distortions, is elucidated for the entire A = 36-40 mass region. Received: 21 December 2001 / Accepted: 25 March 2002     

Study of the Mo-Ba partition in 252Cf spontaneous fission

Measurements of fission fragment yields and neutron multiplicities have been carried out for the Mo-Ba fragment pairs in the spontaneous fission of ²⁵²Cf, using the γ-ray spectroscopy technique to analyze γ-γ-γ coincidence data. Prompt γ -ray multiplicities were also measured as a function of the number of neutrons emitted in the fission process leading to the Mo-Ba partition. We do not observe the enhancement in the yields of events with high neutron emission multiplicity (ν_n > 7) that has been associated to a second fission mode leading to the production of hyperdeformed Ba fragments, as reported in some earlier studies. The average γ-ray multiplicity is found to be rather weakly dependent on the number of neutrons emitted in the fission process. Received: 21 July 1999 / Revised version: 19 November 1999     

First observation of the ν9/2[404] orbital in the A ∼ 100 mass region

A new band, populated by the spontaneous fission of ²⁴⁸Cm and studied by means of prompt γ-ray spectroscopy using the EUROGAM2 array, was observed in ⁹⁹Zr. The 1038.8 keV band head with a half-life T _1/2 = 54(10) ns is interpreted as a K-isomer, corresponding to the 9/2[404] neutron-hole excitation. It is the first observation of this orbital in the mass A ∼ 100 region. The quadrupole moment, Q ₀ = 3.9(3) eb deduced for the new band indicates a large deformation of β = 0.41, which is produced by a specific shape-coexistence mechanism, known in other regions and now found in the A ∼ 100 nuclei. Received: 11 September 2002 / Accepted: 31 October 2002 / Published online: 17 January 2003 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: urban@fuw.edu.pl Communicated by D. Schwalm     

Lifetimes of triaxial superdeformed states in 163Lu and 164Lu

Lifetimes of states in the yrast superdeformed bands of ¹⁶³Lu and ¹⁶⁴Lu were determined in a Doppler-shift attenuation-method experiment. From fractional Doppler shifts and line shapes, average transition quadrupole moments, Q _t = 8.2_-0.6 ^+1.0 b and 7.1_-0.6 ^+0.5 b, were deduced for one of the bands in ¹⁶³Lu and ¹⁶⁴Lu, respectively. These values are much larger than the quadrupole moment of the normal-deformed yrast band in ¹⁶³Yb, Q _t = 4.9_-0.4 ^+1.3 b, that was also determined in this experiment. Comparison to cranking calculations indicates that both superdeformed bands correspond to a local potential energy minimum with a pronounced triaxiality, γ∼ 20^°. Received: 8 November 2001 / Accepted: 9 January 2002     

Conversion--electron gamma--ray coincidence spectroscopy of superdeformed 135Nd

Three mini-orange conversion–electron spectrometers and four Euroball Ge Cluster detectors have been used for γ–e^- coincidence spectroscopy of superdeformed ¹³⁵Nd. Transitions within the superdeformed band are shown to have the expected E2 multipolarity. The 766.5–keV transition which links the band to a positive-parity state has a conversion coefficient consistent with M1 multipolarity. Consequently, positive parity is deduced for the superdeformed band. No evidence for E0 transitions was found. Received: 22 December 1997 / Revised version: 19 January 1998     

Quadrupole moment measurement of the highly deformed πg 9/2⊗νh 11/2 band in 130Pr

The quadrupole moment for the πg _9/2⊗νh _11/2 band in the ^130>Pr nucleus has been measured using the Doppler-shift attenuation method. A centroid shift analysis was carried out and a value of Q₀=6.1±0.4 eb, corresponding to an axial prolate deformation of β₂=0.35(3), has been determined. This is the first direct experimental confirmation of the deformation-driving character of the πg _9/2 orbital in an odd-odd nucleus in the A≃135 superdeformed region. Received: 23 April 1998     

Fragment dependence of high energy γ-ray emission in the spontaneous fission of 252Cf

The high energy γ-ray emission accompanying the spontaneous fission of ²⁵²Cf has been measured in coincidence with individual fission fragments selected by discrete γ-ray transitions. The enhancement of the γ-ray emission probability in the energy range E_γ= 3–8 MeV has been observed for the fission fragments in the region of nearly symmetric mass splitting, confirming results reported in previous investigations. The γ-γ coincidence technique employed in the present work clearly demonstrate that the major contribution to this enhancement is caused by the fission channels where one fragment is near to the N= 82 or Z= 50 shell closures. The high energy γ-ray emission probability does not show any significant dependence on the number of neutrons emitted in the fission process, supporting the hypothesis that high energy γ-rays are mainly emitted from the fragments after the neutron evaporation. Received: 22 December 1998     

Pre-equilibrium dipole strength in charge asymmetric peripheral heavy-ion reactions

We report on the results obtained from the study of the ³²S + ⁶⁴Ni and ³²S + ⁵⁸Ni peripheral reactions at incident energies E _lab = 288 MeV and E _lab = 320 MeV, respectively. High-energy γ-rays were detected in an array of 8 seven-pack BaF₂ clusters. Coincidence with complex fragments detected in 12 three-stage telescopes ensured the selection of peripheral reaction events. All of the relevant reaction parameters were kept constant with the exception of the different initial dipole moment caused by the different entrance channel charge asymmetry. While for quasi-elastic events no N/Z effect was observed in the differential γ-ray multiplicities of the two reactions, for deep-inelastic events a larger dipole γ-ray emission occurs during the more N/Z asymmetric reaction. A theoretical interpretation based on a collective Bremsstrahlung analysis of the reaction dynamics is presented. Received: 26 September 2002 / Accepted: 13 November 2002 / Published online: 6 March 2003 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: pierroutsakou@na.infn.it RID="b" ID="b"Present address: INFN, Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro, Padova, Italy. Communicated by C. Signorini     

Decay of the very neutron-deficient isotope 131Pm

The decay of ¹³¹Pm has been investigated by means of γ-ray spectroscopy. The ¹³¹Pm nuclei were produced by fusion-evaporation reaction of ¹⁰⁶Cd(³²S,3p4n) at the beam energy of 170 MeV. A helium-jet technique and a tape transport system were used to collect the activities and transfer them to a detecting position for X and γ rays measurement. Two γ rays of 185.0 and 220.0 keV were unambiguously identified to follow the β⁺ decay of ¹³¹Pm by results of X-γ and γ–γ coincidence. A growth-decay feature of the decay curve for 87.8 keV γ-ray of ¹³¹Nd confirmed the production of ¹³¹Pm nuclei. The half-life of ¹³¹Pm was measured to be 6.3 ± 0.8 s. A partial decay scheme of ¹³¹Pm is proposed on the basis of X-γ and γ–γ coincidence data in this experiment and the known structure information deduced from in-beam experiments of the daughter nucleus ¹³¹Nd. Received: 11 January 1999 / Revised version: 20 May 1999     

High-spin states in the 96Tc nucleus

High-spin states in the ⁹⁶Tc nucleus have been studied with the reactions ⁸²Se(¹⁹F,5nγ) at 68 MeV and Zn(³⁶S,αpxn) at 130 MeV. Two γ-ray cascades (irregular bandlike structures) have been observed up to an excitation energy of about 10 MeV and spin 21-22?. Received: 19 January 2001 / Accepted: 30 March 2001     

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     

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     

Prompt dipole γ-ray emission in fusionlike heavy-ion reactions

The ³²S + ¹⁰⁰Mo and ³⁶S + ⁹⁶Mo fusionlike reactions were studied at incident energy of E _lab = 298 MeV and 320 MeV, respectively, with the aim of probing the influence of the entrance channel charge asymmetry on the dipole γ-ray emission. The excitation energy and spin distribution of the compound nucleus created in these reactions were identical, the only difference being associated with the unequal charge asymmetry of the two entrance channels. High-energy γ-rays were detected in an array of 9 seven-pack BaF₂ clusters. Coincidence with fusionlike residues detected in four PPAC ensured the selection of central reaction events. By studying the differential γ-ray multiplicity associated with the two reactions it was shown that the dipole strength excited in the compound nucleus increases with the entrance channel charge asymmetry. From the linearized spectra, the increase of the GDR γ-ray intensity was found to be ∼ 25% for the more charge asymmetric system. The results are discussed and compared with those of previous data obtained at different incident energies. Received: 21 October 2002 / Accepted: 23 December 2002 / Published online: 1 April 2003     

Spectroscopy of 112Pd using heavy-ion-induced fission

High-spin states in ¹¹²Pd were studied using prompt γ-ray spectroscopy with Gammasphere following heavy-ion-induced fission in the reaction ¹⁸O + ²⁰⁸Pb at 91 MeV. A new 8⁺ level at 2638 keV was discovered with transitions connecting it to the yrast band and the quasi-gamma band. The three, now established, closely spaced 8⁺ states indicate a mixing between the ground-state band, s-band, and quasi-gamma band. Several high-spin structures with likely negative parity have been extended to higher spin and it is proposed that they are based on the νh _11/2(g _7/2 d _5/2) and νh _11/2(s _1/2 d _3/2) configurations. Received: 28 November 2000 / Accepted: 8 February 2001     

Coincidence Doppler shift lifetime measurements in 73,74Se and 74Br using the EUROBALL Cluster cube array

Subpicosecond lifetimes of high spin states in the rotational nuclei ⁷³Se, ⁷⁴Se and ⁷⁴Br have been measured using the ⁵⁸Ni +¹⁹F compound reaction and the Doppler Shift Attenuation method. Six EUROBALL Cluster detectors arranged in cube geometry allowed us to select the relevant transitions in γγ coincidence mode. The high counting statistics achieved in this setup also facilitated the determination of average sidefeeding times, which were found to agree rather well with the results of Monte-Carlo calculations of the particle and γ-ray evaporation process. The deduced quadrupole strengths and deformations are compared with the results of previous measurements and the predictions of Cranked Shell Model calculations. In ⁷⁴Br, a large and constant prolate deformation of β₂= 0.37(1) was found for the presumed 4⁺ and 3⁻ two-quasiparticle bands. Received: 2 July 1999     

Decay of 1.643 h <Superscript>95</Superscript>Ru and its daughter's level structure

The decay of ⁹⁵Ru has been investigated by means of γ-ray spectroscopy. The ⁹⁵Ru nuclei were produced by the reaction ⁹²Mo( α, n) ⁹⁵Ru at a beam energy of 17MeV. High-purity Ge detectors have been used singly and in coincidence to study γ-rays in the decay of ⁹⁵Ru to ⁹⁵Tc. 132 γ-rays are reported, among them, energies and intensities for 127 transitions have been determined. A decay scheme of ⁹⁵Ru with 31 levels is proposed which accommodates 127 of these transitions. Spins and parities for three new levels are proposed from calculated log ft values, measured γ-ray branching ratios, and in-beam experiment results of the daughter nucleus ⁹⁵Tc. Combining with the high-spin states observed by in-beam γ-ray spectroscopy of previous decay works, the structure of the excited states of ⁹⁵Tc is discussed in the framework of the projected shell model.     

First triaxial superdeformed band in 170Hf

First evidence is presented for triaxial superdeformation in ¹⁷⁰Hf. High-spin states in this nucleus have been investigated in a γ-ray coincidence measurement using the EUROBALL spectrometer array. A new band was discovered which has moments of inertia that are very similar to the ones of triaxial superdeformed bands in neighbouring Hf and Lu nuclei. The intensities with which these bands are populated are different from what may be expected from calculated potential-energy minima. Received: 11 September 2002 / Accepted: 15 October 2002 / Published online: 10 December 2002 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: neusser@iskp.uni-bonn.de Communicated by D. Schwalm     

Signature inversion in πi13/2⊗νi13/2 structure in 178Ir

High-spin states in ¹⁷⁸Ir were investigated by means of in-beam γ-ray spectroscopy techniques using the multidetector array GASP. Excited states of ¹⁷⁸Ir were populated through the ¹⁵⁹Tb(²⁴Mg, 5n) fusion-evaporation reaction at E(²⁴ Mg) = 131-141 MeV. Several rotational bands were observed. Among them, the πi _13/2⊗νi _13/2 structure has been identified up to spin 36 ?. This band exhibits an anomalous signature splitting and a signature inversion around spin 25 ?. Received: 13 December 2000 / Accepted: 11 April 2001     

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