Yrast cascade in 60Ni

Yrast levels of ⁶⁰Ni were investigated via the study of in-beam γ-rays induced by 15–25 MeV α-partictes on ⁵⁸Ni, 26–48 MeV ¹²C ions on ⁵⁰Cr and 30–60 MeV ¹⁶O ions on ⁴⁶Ti. The compound nucleus formed by these target-projectile combinations is ⁶²Zn, and its decay by two-proton emission populates yrast levels of ⁶⁰Ni. The ordering and decay modes of the yrast levels were determined from the analyses of in-beam γ-ray angular distribution and γ-γ coincidence measurements. The new levels established are at 4.262, 5.345 and 6.807 MeV. These together with the known 2₁⁺ (1.332 MeV) and 4₁⁺(2.505 MeV) levels constitute the yrast cascade. The spin assignments based on the present study are 6, 7, 9 for the 4.262, 5.345 and 6.807 MeV levels, respectively. The excitation functions for the yrast γ-rays from the ⁵⁰Cr(¹²C, 2p)⁶⁰Ni reaction show peaks near 33 MeV incident energy.