Feeding and lifetimes of yrast levels in Hf nuclei

Feeding intensities and times, as well as lifetimes of yrast levels in doubly even ^{166, 168, 170}Hf nuclei have been measured. The reactions ^{122, 124}Sn(^{48, 50}Ti, 4n)^166–170₇₂Hf have been investigated using the recoil-distance Doppler-shift method. The lifetimes, and hence the B(E2) values measured, show the same trends of rather small deviations from the rigid rotor as in the known ₆₈Er and ₇₀Yb cases. In addition to the fast feeding component, showing behaviour rather similar to that of the Yb nuclei, another type of slow feeding, related to the low spin yrast levels, is observed.