The level structure of the 153Gd nucleus studied in the 150Sm(α, n)153Gd reaction

The level structure of ¹⁵³Gd has been studied by means of the ¹⁵⁰Sm(α, n)¹⁵³Gd reaction. The experiment included measurements of γ-γ coincidences, γ-angular distributions, γ-ray yield at 17 MeV and 19 MeV beam energy, and γ-ray multiplicities. Favoured and unfavoured members of the positive-parity i_13,2, band were identified. States belonging to the h_9,2 and f_7,2 band structures have been located.Surprisingly low multiplicity numbers were deduced for ₁₅₃Gd γ-rays. This may indicate that the (α, n) reaction is not a pure compound reaction. The level structure of ¹⁵³Gd has been compared to the known structure of other odd-mass N = 89 nuclei, and a close similarity is found.The positive-parity band structure has been compared to calculations with the pairing-plus-recoil model. Good agreement is obtained without any ad hoc Coriolis attenuation.