Half-lives of two-neutron-hole O2+ states in 206Pb and 208Po

Half-lives of O₂⁺ states in ²⁰⁶Pb and ²⁰⁸Po, 770±40 and 465±20ps, respectively, are determined using direct-timing techniques. The corresponding monopole strength parameter values,$\text{ρ(}{}^{206}\text{Pb}\text{) = 0.034±0.002}$ and $\text{ρ(}{}^{208}\text{Po}\text{)=0.030?0.037}$, indicate that the O₂⁺ states in both nuclei are mainly of similar two-neutron-hole character.