Alpha decay studies of very neutron deficient isotopes of Hf,Ta, W,and Re

Very neutron deficient isotopes in the Hf-Re region were produced by bombarding targets of^{107, 109}Ag,^{nat, 108, 110}Pd, and¹⁰³Rh with⁵⁸Ni accelerated by the linear accelerator UNILAC at GSI. After separation from the projectile beam by the velocity filter SHIP, the fusion products were implanted with their full recoil energy into a silicon surface barrier detector. The subsequent alpha decay of the implanted ions was measured with the same detector. In some of the experiments the evaporation residues were implanted into a position sensitive silicon surface barrier detector. With a newly developed position and time correlation technique parent daughter relationships, half lives, andα branching ratios of a large number of isotopes could be determined. In the investigated reactions the eleven new isotopes^161–164Re,¹⁶⁰W,^157–161Ta, and¹⁵⁶Hf could be identified. The measuredQ _α values, half lives, and a branching ratios are discussed. Two new high energyα. transitions of (7,408±10) keV and (7,804±15) keV were also found with half lives of 2.7 ms and 0.52 ms, respectively.A tentative mass and atomic number assignment givesA=153–156 andZ=70–72. The energies of the excited isomeric states are between 2 MeV and 3 MeV. From the systematics of alpha ground state transitions in even nuclei a hindrance of 10⁵ can be deduced for both transitions, possibly indicating orbital angular momenta on the order of 10? for the alpha emitting states. The isomers are proposed to belong to shell model isomers beyond¹⁴⁶Gd.     

Theβ-decay of88Tc

Decay scheme, half life andQ _EC value of⁸⁸Tc were deduced from aβ-decay study. The neutron deficient nucleus⁸⁸Tc was produced by the⁵⁸Ni(³²S,pn)⁸⁸Tc reaction using beam energies of 100, 101 and 105 MeV. The ground- and isomeric states of⁸⁸Tc were found to decay to⁸⁸Mo with similar half lives of 5.8±0.2 and 6.4±0.8 sec. The most probable spins and parities of these states are 3⁺ and 6⁺, respectively, though the order in energy could not be determined. TheQ _EC value was deduced to be 8.6±1.3 MeV.     

The observation of excited states in 142Gd and 142,144Dy

Levels in the neutron deficient ¹⁴²Gd and ^142,144Dy nuclei have been identified using multiple particle-gamma coincidence techniques. The isotopes were produced in the ^54,56Fe + ⁹²Mo and ⁵²Cr + ⁹⁶Ru reactions at 20–30 MeV above the Coulomb barrier. The new data are discussed in the context of the systematic trend toward deformation in light rare-earth nuclei and the disappearance of the Z = 64 subshell gap.     

Analysis of the evaporation-corrected mass and charge distributions in the Ar+Mo reactions

Partly and strongly damped fragments from the reactions³⁶Ar+⁹²Mo and⁴⁰Ar+¹⁰⁰Mo are measured atE _Lab=270 MeV. The extracted mass and charge distributions are carefully corrected forγ, n, p andα particle evaporation. The resulting primary distributions are analysed with theoretical models which assume statistical neutron and proton exchange on the potential energy surface of the projectile-target system. Dynamical-deformation effects in the framework of the surface friction model are included.     

Decay studies of Au isotopes in the mass number region 186–189

Internal conversion electrons and gamma-rays emitted in the decays of the neutron deficient gold isotopes with mass numbers 186–189 have been studied with a double focussing beta-ray spectrometer and a Ge(Li) detector. Multipolarities for the strongest transitions have been deduced. A revised level scheme for¹⁸⁹Pt is proposed. The half-lives of¹⁸⁶Au,¹⁸⁸Au and¹⁸⁹Au are found to be (10.7±0.5), (9.0±0.4) and (28.6±1.0) minutes respectively.     

The charge radii of198Pt-183Pt

The reactions⁵⁸Ni+¹⁰²Pd→¹⁶⁰W and⁵⁸Ni+¹⁰⁶Cd→¹⁶⁴Os were investigated to search for new decay data of neutron deficient nuclei. Excitation energies of the compound nuclei covered a range from 47 to 89 MeV. Velocity separation of the evaporation residues and position time correlations with the a decays of the implanted nuclei were used. The following new decay data were measured:¹⁶²Os (E_α=(6611 ±30) keV, T_1/2=(1.9±0.7) ms);¹⁵⁸W (T_1/2=(0.9±0.3) ms);¹⁵⁸m_W (E=1.88 MeV, E_α=(8280±30) keV, T_1/2=(0.01-1) ms);^155mLu (E_α=(5575±10) keV); β decay of¹⁵⁶Ta (T_1/2 > 10 ms) to the 8⁺ yrast isomer in¹⁵⁶Hf. A cross section of 5μb was measured for the new isotope¹⁵⁶Ta produced in a p3n evaporation channel from¹⁶⁰W at 64 MeV excitation energy.     

Alpha decay of the new isotope172Au

The first observation of the extremely neutrondeficient nucleus¹⁷²Au is reported, produced using the fusion evaporation reaction⁷⁰Ge+¹⁰⁶Cd→¹⁷⁶Hg^* (E_x?64 MeV). Mass separated evaporation residues were implanted into a double-sided silicon strip detector, and the energy and time of subsequent decay events were recorded. The alpha decay of¹⁷²Au was measured with an energy =6860±10 KeV, corresponding to =7020±10 Kev, and a half-life of 4±1 ms. No evidence was seen for a proton decay branch, implying a limit ofb _p ≤ 2 %.     

Investigation of neutron-deficient isotopes in the barium-region

Bombarding targets of 106Cd,¹⁰⁸Cd and¹¹⁰Cd with¹⁶O ions of 52.5–66.0 MeV neutron deficient barium, cesium and xenon isotopes were produced and have been studied using excitation functions and neutron-gamma, proton-gamma, alpha-gamma and gammagamma coincidence measurements. Partial level schemes for¹²³Ba and¹²¹Ba were proposed. A number of gamma transitions was assigned to the different product nuclei. The measured particle emission probabilities from the compound nuclei are compared with different evaporation models. The models mostly underestimate neutron emission and often overestimate the emission of alpha particles.     

Investigation of neutron-deficient isotopes in the barium-region

Bombarding targets of 106Cd,¹⁰⁸Cd and¹¹⁰Cd with¹⁶O ions of 52.5–66.0 MeV neutron deficient barium, cesium and xenon isotopes were produced and have been studied using excitation functions and neutron-gamma, proton-gamma, alpha-gamma and gammagamma coincidence measurements. Partial level schemes for¹²³Ba and¹²¹Ba were proposed. A number of gamma transitions was assigned to the different product nuclei. The measured particle emission probabilities from the compound nuclei are compared with different evaporation models. The models mostly underestimate neutron emission and often overestimate the emission of alpha particles.     

Determination of the fission barrier of232Pu from β-delayed fission and the problem of the first barrier

A delayed fission activity with a half-life of (55±7) s and a production cross section of (5±1)nb has been observed in the irradiation of²³⁷Np with 104 MeVα particles. It is tentatively assigned to the electron capture decay of²³²Am followed by fission of²³²Pu With a probability of (1.3 _?0.8 ⁺⁴ )· 10^?2 A barrier height of (5.3±0.4) MeV is extracted for²³²Pu exceeding theoretical barrier heights by about 2MeV. Systematic deviations between experimental and theoretical barrier heights previously observed in particular for U and Th isotopes are now also established for neutron deficient Pu isotopes indicating severe defects in the procedure of calculating static fission barriers.     

Interaction of 80 MeV12C with88Sr; Neutron transfer,inelastic scattering and spin alignment of the 2+ State of12C

Level structure of¹⁰²Cd has been studied via both¹⁰²In decay and nuclear reactions. Using⁹²Mo+¹⁴N at 86 MeV, the nucleus¹⁰²In was identified and its decay (T _1/2=24 ±4s) studied with the aid of on-line mass separation techniques. Levels of¹⁰²Cd were also populated with⁹²Mo+¹²C at 50 MeV and¹⁰²Pd+³He at 35 MeV reactions and investigated by means of standard in-beam techniques. A level scheme including states up to 4.5 MeV excitation energy is proposed and then discussed in the frame of available calculations.     

Intense mass-separated beams of halogens and beta-delayed neutron emission from heavy bromine isotopes

Improved production yields of short-lived halogens were obtained from a ThO₂ target, irradiated with 600 MeV protons, in combination with a negative surface ionization source. Mass-separated samples were studied by decay spectroscopy. Production yields of radioactive isotopes of chlorine, bromine, iodine and astatine are presented. Half-lives and relative neutron emission probabilities were measured for the heavy bromine isotopes^89?92Br. Normalizing to earlier publishedP _n values for⁸⁹Br, the results are:⁸⁹Br (4.30±0.14s,P _n =13.6±0.8%),⁹⁰Br (1.92±0.06s,P _n =24.8±1.5%),⁹¹Br (0.53 ±0.03 s,P _n =30.1 ±2.1%), and⁹²Br (0.31 ±0.02 s,P _n =34.6±2.5%). Energy spectra ofβ-delayed neutrons were measured.     

Messung der Winkelverteilung der Neutronenpolarisation bei Streuung von 15,85 MeV-Neutronen am Kohlenstoff

AtE _n=15.85 MeV the angular distributions of neutron polarizationP(θ) for¹²C(n, n)¹²C and of scattering asymmetry A(θ) for¹² C(n,n′)¹² C ^*(Q=?4.43 MeV) have been measured. In a neutron time-of-flight method with a plastic scintillator as scatterer carbon recoil nuclei were used for detection. Polarized neutrons were produced in thed-t reaction atE _d=1.90 MeV at a reaction angle of 70° (lab.). WithP _n=?0.135 scattering polarizations P(θ) are forθ _lab=30, 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80° respectively ?27.0±2.1, ?48.4±2.7, ?68.7±3.6, ?20.7±6.2, +5.3±3.9, and +2.1±4.5%.     

Half-lives,neutron emission probabilities and fission yields of neutron-rich rubidium isotopes in the mass regionA=96 toA=100

Neutron-rich rubidium isotopes were produced by thermal-neutron induced fission of²³⁵U and were isolated by surface ionization and mass separation. The new isotope (51 ±17) ms¹⁰⁰Rb was identified. The half-lives of the rubidium isotopes with mass numberA=96 toA=100 were measured using neutron multiscaling or gamma multispectrum analysis. Measurements of the delayed-neutron emission probabilityP _n of⁹⁹Rb and of the fission yields of⁹⁷Rb,⁹⁸Rb, and⁹⁹Rb were performed.     

The decay of 31 sec98Zr, 2.9 sec98Nb and 51 min98Nb

TheΒ- andγ-radiations of⁹⁸Zr and^{98m, g} Nb have been investigated employing scintillation and semiconductor spectrometers and coincidence techniques. Sources of⁹⁸Nb were produced by the⁹⁸Mo(n, p)⁹⁸Nb reaction, sources of⁹⁸Zr by fission of²³⁵U with thermal neutrons applying chemical separations. For⁹⁸Zr, a half-life of 30.7±0.4 sec and aQ _β-value of 2.3±0.2 MeV were obtained, for the⁹⁸Nb isomers, half-lives of 2.86±0.06 sec and 51.3±0.4 min, andQ _β-values of 4.8±0.2 MeV and 4.5±0.2 MeV, respectively. Noγ-rays were observed in the decay of⁹⁸Zr. The decay of 2.9 sec⁹⁸Nb was found to involve 11γ-ray transitions. In the decay of 51 min⁹⁸Nb, 54γ-transitions were detected. Spin and parity of 1⁺ and 4^? were deduced for the isomeric states of⁹⁸Nb.     

Alpha decay of the new isotope 174Hg

Neutron deficient mercury isotopes were produced in the reaction ³⁶Ar + ¹⁴⁴Sm using bombarding energies of 180–230 MeV. Fusion products were separated in-flight from the primary beam using a gas-filled recoil separator. An alpha line with the alpha particle energy and half-life of (7069±11) keV and (2.1 _?0.7 ^+1.8 ) ms, respectively, was assigned to the new mercury isotope ¹⁷⁴Hg.     

Gamma decay of93Mo states from92Mo (d,pγ) and93Tc β-decay

The decay scheme of the fragmented single neutron states of93Mo up to 3.2 MeV excitation energy is obtained from a⁹²Mo(d,pγ)⁹³Mo coincidence experiment. The total γ-spectrum from⁹²Mo+d shows additional strong γ-decays following the β-decay of⁹³Tc produced by the (d, n) reaction. The decay scheme is discussed in the frame of the particle-core coupling model. The important role of 2⁺ core excited components inE2 andM1 transitions between states with different angular momentum of the single particle component is pointed out.     

The decay of105Tc to levels in105Ru

Theβ ^?-decay of 7.6-min¹⁰⁵Tc has been investigated byβ- andγ-ray singles and coincidence measurements. The activities have been produced by thermal-neutron-induced fission of²³⁵U or²³⁹Pu and subsequent chemical separation of the technetium fraction from the fission product mixture. AQ _β-value of 3.2±0.2 MeV has been determined. In a delayed coincidence experiment the lifetime of the first excited state in¹⁰⁵Ru at 20.55 keV has been measured to be 340±15 nsec. A level scheme of¹⁰⁵Ru is proposed and compared with the results of recent nuclear reaction studies like¹⁰⁴Ru(d, p) and¹⁰⁴Ru(n, γ). From beta branching ratios to levels in¹⁰⁵Ru, ground state spin and parity of 5/2⁺ can be suggested for¹⁰⁵Tc in accordance with the trend observed in neutron rich technetium isotopes.     

Copper ion induced reactions on110-108-106Cd,109-107Ag and110Pd. new rhenium,osmium and iridium isotopes

By⁶³Cu induced reactions on¹¹⁰Cd,¹⁰⁸Cd,¹⁰⁶Cd,¹⁰⁹Ag,¹⁰⁷Ag and¹¹⁰Pd targets, new isotopes were searched in the Ir, Os, Re region. Cross bombardments and excitation function measurements were used to identify newα emitting isotopes:¹⁷⁰Ir (E _α = 6.01 ±0.01 MeV?T _1/2=1.1±0.2s),¹⁶⁹Ir (E _α =6.11±0.01 MeV?T _1/2=0.4±0.1 s),¹⁶⁸Ir (E _α =6.22±0.02 MeV,¹⁶⁸Os (E _α =5.66±0.01 MeV?T _1/2=1.9±0.1 s),¹⁶⁷Os (E _α =5.84 ±0.01MeV ?T ^1/2=0.65±0.15s),¹⁶⁶Os (E _α =6.00±0.02 MeV?T _1/2=0.3 ±0.1 s),¹⁶⁵Os (E _α =6.20±0.02 MeV),¹⁶⁹Re (E _α =5.05±0.01 MeV),¹⁶⁸Re (5.26±0.01 MeV?T ^1/2=5.5 ±0.5 s). Theα-decay measurements are compared to theQ _α values obtained from different mass predictions.     

The magnetic moments and halflives of the 5/2− states in199Hg and197Hg and the discrepancies in the experimental hyperfine fields at Hg in Fe

The Larmor-precession frequencies for¹⁹⁷Hg in Fe have been determined to beω _L = 1291 ±25 MHz at 293 K andω _L = 1334±25 MHz at 105 K. For¹⁹⁹Hg in Feω _L =1372±50 MHz has been measured at 293 K. The half-lives of the 5/2^? states in¹⁹⁷Hg and¹⁹⁹Hg have been remeasured asT _1/2(¹⁹⁷Hg)=8.1±0.16 nsec andT _1/2(¹⁹⁹Hg)=2.45±0.05 ns, respectively. The magnetic moment of the 5/2^? 158keV state in¹⁹⁹Hg was redetermined by the integral perturbed angular correlation method in an external magnetic field of 47kG asμ(5/2 ^? ) = 0.905±0.091 nm. With this new value consistency for the magnetic hyperfine fields at Hg in Fe measured with the TDPAC-method and with the NMR/ON-method is obtained. This fact is used to determine theg-factors of the 5/2^? states in¹⁹⁷Hg and¹⁹⁹Hg more precisely fromω _L -values given above:g(¹⁹⁷Hg)=0.342(6);g(¹⁹⁹Hg)=0.352(13). The magnetic moments of the first excited 2⁺ states in^198–204Hg isotopes which rely on calibrations with the¹⁹⁹Hg-g-factor, are revised.