Absolute E1, ΔK = 1 transition probabilities between multi-quasiparticle high-spin states in 176Hf and 178Hf

Applying the generalized centroid shift method in (α, 2n) reactions, the half-lives of the 3080 keV 15⁺ state in ¹⁷⁶Hf and of the 1637 keV 5^? state in ¹⁷⁸Hf have been measured as $\text{T}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{= 0.20}{}^{\mathrm{+0.12}}{}_{\mathrm{?0.08}}\text{ns}$ and $\text{T}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{= 0.40 ± 0.10}\text{ns}$, respectively. B(El) values of K-allowed E1 transitions $\text{n}\text{9}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{624]→}\text{7}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{514]}$ are derived, and together with other data on similar transitions in odd-A nuclei, compared with predictions of the Nilsson plus pairing model. In ¹⁷⁶Hf, the 15⁺ and 14^? states at 3080 and 2866 keV, respectively, appear as quite pure deformed 4QP configurations. In the 2QP state at 1637 keV in ¹⁷⁸Hf, possible strong mixing of vibrational components is discussed coupled via 2QP K-admixtures arising from the partial alignment of the $\text{i}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>13</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ neutron.