Isomerism,total decay energies,and absolute γ-ray intensities of the heavy Pd and Ag isotopes

The decays of^{113, 114, 115g, 115m, 116}Pd have been studied with an emphasis on the determinations of total decay energies and absoluteγ-ray intensities. The experiments also provided improved data on these quantities for the decays of^{114, 115g, 115m, 116m}Ag. A search for isomeric transitions using a high resolution electron detector resulted in the identification of isomericE3 transitions in¹¹⁵Pd and^{113, 115, 116, 117}Ag. The isomeric branching was determined in all cases. TheQ _β-values of^113–116Pd and^113–116Ag have been measured using aβγ-coincidence method.     

Spin-flipβ − decay of even-even deformed nuclei110Ru and112Ru

Neutron-rich nuclides¹¹⁰Ru and¹¹²Ru produced in symmetric fission of²³⁸U by 20 MeV protons have been studied at the IGISOL facility by means ofβ-ray,γ-ray and conversion electron spectroscopy. A total of 12 and 6γ-transitions were observed in the decays of¹¹⁰Ru and¹¹²Ru, respectively. Multipolarities were determined for a few transitions. The beta decay half-life was determined to be 11.6±0.6 s for¹¹⁰Ru and 1.75±0.07 s for¹¹²Ru. As a side product, a new value of 2.1±0.3 s for theβ half-life of the¹¹²Rh 1⁺ state was obtained. The decay energy measured with the plastic scintillator was 2.81 ±0.05 MeV for¹¹⁰Ru and 4.52 ±0.08 MeV for¹¹²Ru. The beta decay schemes of¹¹⁰Ru and¹¹²Ru isotopes indicate that the main fraction of their beta strength resides in two 0⁺→1⁺ spin-flip transitions with their logf t values between 4.4 and 4.7. The decay energies and the energies of the 1⁺ GT states are compared with the macroscopic-microscopic model calculations. The observed GT-strengths are discussed in the framework of the deformed single-particle model.     

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.     

Investigations of very neutron-deficient isotopes below100Sn in40Ca-induced reactions

Very neutron-deficient isotopes of rhodium, palladium, silver, cadmium and indium in theN=50 region were studied at the GSI on-line mass separator following bombardment of^{58, 60, 62}Ni and^{63, 65}Cu targets with 4.0 MeV/u ions of⁴⁰Ca. The known properties of the β-delayed proton precursor^95m Pd were confirmed, but a search for direct proton decay of^95m Ag was not successful. Beta-delayed proton activities observed at mass-numbers 94, 96, 97 and 100 were assigned to the precursors⁹⁴Rh(66±14 s),⁹⁶Ag(5.1±0.4s),⁹⁷Cd(3 _?2 ⁺⁴ s) and¹⁰⁰In. In addition,⁹⁴Pd(9.0±0.5 s) was identified from β-γ-X studies. Individual decay schemes of^95m96Pd and^{96, 98}Ag are reported.     

The Gamow-Teller beta decay of100Cd

Neutron-deficient isotopes of cadmium were produced in thep(600 MeV)+^natSn spallation reaction. The ISOLDE facility provided mass-separated beams of these isotopes. The production yield was 10³ to 10⁴ atoms/s for¹⁰⁰Cd and roughly two orders of magnitude less for⁹⁸Cd. The properties of the¹⁰⁰Cd→¹⁰⁰Ag decay were studied in detail by X-ray,γ-ray and conversion electron spectroscopy. Forty nineγ-transitions were assigned to this decay, and all but five of them were placed in the decay scheme. The half-life was determined to be 49.1±0.5 s. TheQ _EC value of 3890±70 keV was deduced from a comparison of experimental and theoreticalβ ⁺/(EC+β ⁺ probability ratios. Seven 0⁺→1⁺ Gamow-Teller transitions with log ft values between 3.5 and 4.9 were identified. The total (summed) strength is about five times smaller than predicted by the shell model for the transformation of ag _9/2 proton into ag _7/2 neutron. The quenching of the Gamow-Teller strength and other questions of nuclear structure are discussed for the¹⁰⁰Cd decay. The properties of⁹⁸Cd are inferred by extrapolation of^104,102,100Cd data, and some preliminary experimental results on⁹⁸Cd decay are presented.     

Measurement of the mass of110Pd and114Pd using the (14C,16O) reaction

A measurement of the mass excess of¹¹⁰Pd and¹¹⁴Pd has been made by detecting emergent¹⁶O ions in aQ3D magnetic spectrometer using the¹¹²Cd(¹⁴C,¹⁶O)¹¹⁰Pd and¹¹⁶Cd(¹⁴C,¹⁶O)¹¹⁴Pd reactions at 60 MeV. The results are compared with theoretical predictions.     

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.     

Ground state properties and β-decay half-lives near 132Sn in a self-consistent theory

The level scheme of⁹⁵Tc has been investigated with Ge(Li)-detectors by observing the γ-rays after the decay of 1.65 h⁹⁵Ru. The energies and intensities of theγtransitions were extracted fromγ-singles andγγ-coincidence spectra. In the decay of⁹⁵Ru 88γ-transitions were observed; a scheme of⁹⁵Tc with 25 levels is proposed into which 86 transitions could be accomodated. Spin and parity assignments were made from log (ft) values andγ-ray branching ratios. The level structure of⁹⁵Tc is compared with that of the other odd Tc isotopes.     

Study of the124Xe and126Xe structure

The level structure of¹²⁴Xe and¹²⁶Xe is studied on the basis ofβ ⁺ decay of¹²⁴Cs and¹²⁶Cs. The Cs isotopes were produced in the Xe(p, n) Cs reactions at a proton energy ofE≈9.5 MeV. Decay schemes are proposed for these nuclei. The available experimental data are compared with the predictions of various models.     

High-spin states in106Cd

Levels of¹⁰⁶Cd, populated by¹⁰⁴Pd(α, 2nγ)¹⁰⁶Cd have been studied measuring direct and delayedγ-ray spectra,γ-γ coincidences andγ-ray angular distributions. A decay level scheme is proposed including states up to 4659.8 keV. IntenseE2 transition cascades have been observed. The half-life of an isomeric level located at 4659.8 keV has been measured:T _1/2= 62±6ns. Nuclear Reactions ¹⁰⁴Pd(α, 2nγ),E _α=31MeV; measuredE _γ,I _γ,γ-γ coinc, σ(θ)T _1/2.¹⁰⁶Cd deduced levels,J, π, Enriched targets. Ge(Li) detectors.     

In-beamγ-ray spectroscopy of the odd-odd nucleus144Tb

The level scheme of theN=79 nucleus¹⁴⁴Tb was investigated via in beamγ-ray spectroscopy using the¹¹²Sn (³⁵Cl,n2p),¹¹⁶Sn(³²S, 3np) and⁸⁹Y(⁵⁸Ni, 2np) reactions. States up toI～20 andE _x～5 MeV were established above the 6^? β ⁺ decaying isomer. Two new isomers with half-life of 0.67(6) µs and 2.8(3) µs were identified. The level scheme of¹⁴⁴Tb is interpreted in the framework of the spherical shell model with a few valence nucleons outside the¹⁴⁶Gd core.     

Precise atomic masses of147Eu,147Gd,and151Tb derived from their decay properties

Theβ-decay energies of¹⁴⁷Eu,¹⁴⁷Gd, and¹⁵¹Tb were determined by usingγ-spectroscopical methods. The comparison of experimental with calculatedK-capture probabilities yielded theQ _EC values 1.690( _?16 ⁺²¹ )MeV and 2.203( _?13 ⁺¹⁹ )MeV for¹⁴⁷Eu and¹⁴⁷Gd, respectively. By measuring the ratio of positron decay to electron capture for two branches in¹⁴⁷Eu decay, the decay energiesQ _EC=1.702(13) MeV andQ _EC=1.709(18)MeV were derived. Also fromEC/β ⁺ ratios the valuesQ _EC=2.225(75) MeV for¹⁴⁷Gd, andQ _EC=2.566(12)MeV for¹⁵¹Tb were obtained. Earlier discrepancies in the mass adjustment of these isotopes were removed. In course of the present studiesγ-decay properties of¹⁴⁷Eu and¹⁴⁷Gd were reinvestigated.     

Energy levels of136Pm and136Nd via beta decay of136Sm and136Pm

¹³⁶Pm and¹³⁶Nd were studied using theβ decay of¹³⁶Sm and¹³⁶Pm. The radioactive nuclei were produced by the⁹²Mo (⁴⁸Ti,xpyn) and¹¹²Sn (²⁸Si,xpyn) reactions. The UNISOR isotope separator enabled mass identification. The previously unknown level scheme of¹³⁶Pm was constructed and the half-life of¹³⁶Sm was determined to be 47±2 s. Six new levels and thirteen newγ-ray transitions have been added to the level scheme of¹³⁶Nd.     

The Gamow-Teller transitions in the96Pd→96Rh decay

Using the⁴⁰Ca(4.2 MeV/u) +⁶⁰Ni reaction and on-line mass separation, the decay properties of ₄₆ ⁹⁶ Pd₅₀ were reinvestigated. From a comparison of experimental and theoreticalβ ⁺/(EC +β ⁺) probability ratios, theQ _EC value was deduced to be 3,450 ± 150 keV. The strength was determined for four 0⁺→1⁺ Gamow-Teller beta transitions and found to be quenched as compared to predictions of the single-particle shell model. For⁹⁶Pd and⁹⁴Ru the sources of this quenching are discussed.     

The level scheme of91Tc and theβ decay of91Ru(9/2+)

The level scheme of⁹¹Tc has been studied by means of in-beamγ-ray spectroscopy in the irradiations of⁵⁸Ni and⁵⁴Fe targets by⁴⁰Ca beams from the Munich MP tandem and the heavy ion post accelerator. A large number of positive as well as of negative parity yrast-levels with excitation energies up to 8 MeV has been established. The level scheme of⁹¹Tc has been compared with shell model claculations and a good agreement for all identified levels has been found. In parallel investigations of the residual activities of the reaction⁴⁰Ca→⁵⁴Fe, theβ decay of the (9/2⁺ ground) state of⁹¹Ru has been investigated. Aβ decay scheme of⁹¹Ru(9/2⁺) has been established. The half-life of⁹¹Ru(9/2⁺) has been measured to be 9±1 s.     

Atomic masses of rare earth isotopes145Pm,145Sm and151Gd,derived from decay measurements of145Sm and151Gd

The comparison of experimental with calculated K-capture probabilities yielded the decay energies of¹⁴⁵Sm and¹⁵¹Gd,Q _EC=622(5) and 463(3) keV, respectively. Earlier discrepancies in the mass adjustment of these isotopes were removed and adjusted masses for¹⁴⁵Sm,¹⁴⁵Pm and¹⁵¹Gd derived. In the decay of¹⁵¹Gd five newγ-rays were found and the half-life remeasured to be 129(4) d.     

Groundstate proton radioactivity of nuclei in the tin region

Proton radioactivities with decay energies of (0.98±0.08) MeV and (0.83±0.08) MeV were produced by the fusion reactions⁵⁸Ni+⁵⁸Ni→¹¹⁶Ba ? and⁵⁸Ni+⁵⁴Fe→¹¹²Xe ?, and their halflives were measured to be (33±7) μs and (109±17) μs, respectively. The intensities of the lines correspond to production cross sections of about 30 μb and 40 μb. The two activities are assigned to the direct proton decay of¹¹³Cs and¹⁰⁹I. The measured halflives are compared with values calculated ford _5/2 andg _7/2 groundstates of¹⁰⁹I and¹¹³Cs and spectroscopic factors are deduced for the decays. An extensive search for the proton decay of¹⁰⁵Sb, produced in the reaction⁵⁰Cr(⁵⁸Ni,p2 n)¹⁰⁵Sb, had a negative result, excluding decay energies between 0.5 MeV and 1.5 MeV for halflives between 10 ns and 5 s.     

Angular distributions of elastic and quasi elastic heavy-ion collisions. pattern analysis

From classical in-beam spectroscopy on the¹⁰⁶Cd+¹²C reaction, unambiguousγ-ray assignments have been done for¹¹⁶Xe,¹¹⁶I and¹¹⁶Te nuclei. The ground band levels observed in¹¹⁶Xe have been compared to those of heavier even-even xenon isotopes and to the IBA theoretical predictions. In addition, using the newγ-ray assignments, evaporation cross-sections of the¹¹⁸Xe compound nucleus have been estimated and compared to the evaporation model calculations.     

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.