Multipolarity of the continuum γ-rays in 152Dy and 160Er via linear polarisation measurements

The multipolarity of the continuum transitions in ¹⁵²Dy and ¹⁶⁰Er has been deduced from γ-ray linear polarisation and angular distribution measurements. The yrast part for ¹⁶⁰Er agrees with the predicted stretched E2 cascade. The statistical parts for both ¹⁵²Dy and ¹⁶⁰Er consist of a mixture of dipolar stretched and non-stretched transitions, predominantly of electrical character. Below 1.5 MeV, the data of ¹⁵²Dy exhibit a different structure, and reveal a stretched M1 component in the low-energy region.