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Background: The mercury isotopes around $N=104$ are a well-known example of nuclei exhibiting shape coexistence. Mixing of configurations can be studied by measuring the monopole strength $\rho^2(E0)$, however, currently the experimental information is scarce and lacks precision, especially for the $I^\pi \rightarrow I^\pi$ ($I \neq 0$) transitions. Purpose: The goals of this study were to increase the precision of the known branching ratios and internal conversion coefficients, to increase the amount of available information regarding excited states in $^{182,184,186}$Hg and to interpret the results in the framework of shape coexistence using different models. Method: The low-energy structures in $^{182,184,186}$Hg were populated in the $\beta$ decay of $^{182,184,186}$Tl, produced at ISOLDE and purified by laser ionization and mass separation. The $\gamma$-ray and internal conversion electron events were detected by five germanium clover detectors and a segmented silicon detector, respectively, and correlated in time to build decay schemes. Results: In total, 193, 178 and 156 transitions, including 144, 140 and 108 observed for the first time in a $\beta$-decay experiment, were assigned to $^{182,184,186}$Hg, respectively. Internal conversion coefficients were determined for 23 transitions, out of which 12 had an $E0$ component. Extracted branching ratios allowed the sign of the interference term in $^{182}$Hg as well as $\rho^2(E0;0^+_2\rightarrow 0^+_1)$ and $B(E2;0^+_2\rightarrow 2^+_1)$ in $^{184}$Hg to be determined. By means of electron-electron coincidences, the $0^+_3$ state was identified in $^{184}$Hg. The experimental results were qualitatively reproduced by five theoretical approaches, the IBM with configuration mixing with two different parametrizations, the General Bohr Hamiltonian, the BMF model and the SCCM model. However, a quantitative description is lacking., Comment: 21 pages, 30 figures, accepted for publication in Physical Review C

Background: The mercury isotopes around $N=104$ are a well-known example of nuclei exhibiting shape coexistence. Mixing of configurations can be studied by measuring the monopole strength $ρ^2(E0)$, however, currently the experimental information is scarce and lacks precision, especially for the $I^π\rightarrow I^π$ ($I \neq 0$) transitions. Purpose: The goals of this study were to increase the precision of the known branching ratios and internal conversion coefficients, to increase the amount of available information regarding excited states in $^{182,184,186}$Hg and to interpret the results in the framework of shape coexistence using different models. Method: The low-energy structures in $^{182,184,186}$Hg were populated in the $β$ decay of $^{182,184,186}$Tl, produced at ISOLDE and purified by laser ionization and mass separation. The $γ$-ray and internal conversion electron events were detected by five germanium clover detectors and a segmented silicon detector, respectively, and correlated in time to build decay schemes. Results: In total, 193, 178 and 156 transitions, including 144, 140 and 108 observed for the first time in a $β$-decay experiment, were assigned to $^{182,184,186}$Hg, respectively. Internal conversion coefficients were determined for 23 transitions, out of which 12 had an $E0$ component. Extracted branching ratios allowed the sign of the interference term in $^{182}$Hg as well as $ρ^2(E0;0^+_2\rightarrow 0^+_1)$ and $B(E2;0^+_2\rightarrow 2^+_1)$ in $^{184}$Hg to be determined. By means of electron-electron coincidences, the $0^+_3$ state was identified in $^{184}$Hg. The experimental results were qualitatively reproduced by five theoretical approaches, the IBM with configuration mixing with two different parametrizations, the General Bohr Hamiltonian, the BMF model and the SCCM model. However, a quantitative description is lacking., 21 pages, 30 figures, accepted for publication in Physical Review C

The decay properties of In133 were studied in detail at the ISOLDE Decay Station. The implementation of the Resonance Ionization Laser Ion Source allowed separate measurements of its 9/2+ ground state (In133g) and 1/2− isomer (In133m). With the use of β-delayed neutron and γ spectroscopy, the decay strengths above the neutron separation energy were quantified in this neutron-rich nucleus for the first time. The allowed Gamow-Teller transition 9/2+→7/2+ was located at 5.93 MeV in the In133g decay with a logft=4.7(1). In addition, several neutron-unbound states were populated at lower excitation energies by the first-forbidden decays of In133g,m. We assigned spins and parities to those neutron-unbound states based on the β-decay selection rules, the logft values, and systematics. The decay properties of $^{133}$In were studied in detail at the ISOLDE Decay Station (IDS). The implementation of the Resonance Ionization Laser Ion Source (RILIS) allowed separate measurements of its $9/2^+$ ground state ($^{133g}$In) and $1/2^-$ isomer ($^{133m}$In). With the use of $\beta$-delayed neutron and $\gamma$ spectroscopy, the decay strengths above the neutron separation energy were quantified in this neutron-rich nucleus for the first time. The allowed Gamow-Teller transition $9/2^+\rightarrow7/2^+$ was located at 5.92 MeV in the $^{133g}$In decay with a logft = 4.7(1). In addition, several neutron-unbound states were populated at lower excitation energies by the First-Forbidden decays of $^{133g,m}$In. We assigned spins and parities to those neutron-unbound states based on the $\beta$-decay selection rules, the logft values, and systematics.

The nature of quadrupole and octupole collectivity in 222Rn was investigated by determining the electric-quadrupole (E2) and octupole (E3) matrix elements using subbarrier, multistep Coulomb excitation. The radioactive 222Rn beam, accelerated to 4.23 MeV/u, was provided by the HIE-ISOLDE facility at CERN. Data were collected in the Miniball γ-ray spectrometer following the bombardment of two targets, 120Sn and 60Ni. Transition E2 matrix elements within the ground-state and octupole bands were measured up to 10ℏ and the results were consistent with a constant intrinsic electric-quadrupole moment, 518(11)efm2. The values of the intrinsic electric-octupole moment for the 0+→3− and 2+→5− transitions were found to be respectively 2360+300−210efm3 and 2300+300−500efm3 while a smaller value, 1200+500−900efm3, was found for the 2+→1− transition. In addition, four excited non-yrast states were identified in this work via γ−γ coincidences.

The NA62 experiment reports the branching ratio measurement $BR(K^+\to\pi^+\nu\bar\nu)$ at 68% CL, based on the observation of 20 signal candidates with an expected background of 7.0 events from the total data sample collected at the CERN SPS during 2016-2018. This provides evidence for the very rare $K^+\to\pi^+\nu\bar\nu$ decay, observed with a significance of $3.4\sigma$. The experiment achieves a single event sensitivity of $(0.839\pm0.054)\times10^{-11}$, corresponding to 10.0 events assuming the Standard Model branching ratio of $(8.4\pm1.0)\times10^{-11}$. The result represents the most accurate measurement achieved so far of this ultra-rare decay. Future prospects and plans for data taking from 2021 will also be presented.

The extremely neutron-deficient isotope 179Au has been studied by a combination of in-beam γ-ray and isomeric-decay spectroscopy. For in-beam spectroscopy, the recoil-isomer tagging technique was employed, using the known 3/2−, T1/2=328 ns isomer. A new rotational band, associated with the unfavored signature band of the 1h9/2⊕2f7/2 proton-intruder configuration, was revealed. A previously unknown, high-spin isomeric state with an excitation energy of 1743(17) keV and T1/2=2.16(8)µs was discovered. Five decay paths were identified, some of them feeding previously unknown non-yrast excited states, associated with the 1i13/2 proton-intruder configuration. Calculations based on the particle-plus-triaxial-rotor model were performed to interpret the data. On the basis of these calculations, the new 1h9/2⊕2f7/2 rotational band is interpreted as due to triaxial deformation of the underlying configuration with β2≈0.26 and γ≈27∘. Observed non-yrast states of the positive-parity 1i13/2 intruder configuration are interpreted as due to triaxial deformation with β2≈0.26 and γ≈20∘. peerReviewed

Three new negative-parity bands have been identified in 120Ba, two of them forming a strongly coupled band. The previously known negative-parity band is significantly extended to high spin, while the lower part of the yrare positive-parity band has been modified. From the analysis of the band properties and comparison with the neighboring nuclei a coherent description of all bands is achieved. In particular, a simple explanation of the evolution of the positive-parity bands at high spin is proposed, including the possible occupation of the νf7/2[541]1/2− intruder orbital. Cranked Nilsson-Strutinsky calculations reveal similar quadrupole deformations but different triaxiality of the bands, while particle number conserving cranked shell model calculations qualitatively reproduce the experimental data and support the assigned configurations. The new measured ratios of reduced transition probabilities B(E1)/B(E2) complete the systematics in the 118–124Ba nuclei, exhibiting a decrease with decreasing neutron number, and are compared with the known values in the 116–120Xe nuclei, which are larger. Extended calculations with the quadrupole and octupole collective Hamiltonian based on the relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov model employing the relativistic DD-PC1 density functional nicely reproduce the decreasing trend towards lower neutron numbers for Ba and Xe nuclei, as well as the larger values in Xe nuclei, but are much larger in amplitude than the experimental values. On the other hand, particle number conserving cranked shell model calculations without octupole deformation overestimate the low-spin values, while those with octupole deformation included reproduce the experimental values in 120Ba, suggesting the possible existence of moderate octupole collectivity in the negative-parity bands of nuclei in this mass region. peerReviewed

Direct lifetime measurements via γ–γ coincidences using the FATIMA fast-timing LaBr3(Ce) array were performed for the excited states below previously reported isomers. In the N = 50 semi-magic 96Pd nucleus, lifetimes below the I π = 8+ seniority isomer were addressed as a benchmark for further analysis. The results for the I π = 2+ and 4 + states confirm the published values. Increased accuracy for the lifetime value was achieved for the 4 + state. peerReviewed

Using the fusion-evaporation reaction ^{96}Ru(^{58}Ni,p4n)^{149}Lu and the MARA vacuum-mode recoil separator, a new proton-emitting isotope ^{149}Lu has been identified. The measured decay Q value of 1920(20) keV is the highest measured for a ground-state proton decay, and it naturally leads to the shortest directly measured half-life of 450_{-100}^{+170} ns for a ground-state proton emitter. The decay rate is consistent with l_{p}=5 emission, suggesting a dominant πh_{11/2} component for the wave function of the proton-emitting state. Through nonadiabatic quasiparticle calculations it was concluded that ^{149}Lu is the most oblate deformed proton emitter observed to date.

A new β-decaying state in Bi214 has been identified at the ISOLDE Decay Station at the CERN-ISOLDE facility. A preferred Iπ=(8-) assignment was suggested for this state based on the β-decay feeding pattern to levels in Po214 and shell-model calculations. The half-life of the Iπ=(8-) state was deduced to be T1/2=9.39(10) min. The deexcitation of the levels populated in Po214 by the β decay of this state was investigated via γ-γ coincidences and a number of new levels and transitions was identified. Shell-model calculations for excited states in Bi214 and Po214 were performed using two different effective interactions: the H208 and the modified Kuo-Herling particle interaction. Both calculations agree on the interpretation of the new β-decaying state as an Iπ=8- isomer and allow for tentative assignment of shell-model states to several high-spin states in Po214.

The neutron-deficient 119Ba nucleus has been studied using the 58Ni(64Zn,2pn) reaction and the JUROGAM 3 γ-ray detector array coupled to the MARA recoil-mass separator setup. One new rotational band and several low-lying states are newly identified. A half-life of T1/2=0.36(2)μs has been measured for the 5/2− bandhead of the νh11/2 band. The two previously known rotational bands are confirmed, except for the higher part of the +1/2 signature partner of the positive-parity band. Configurations are assigned based on the analysis of the observed quasiparticle alignments whose nature is unveiled by the calculations using the particle number conserving cranked shell model. peerReviewed

13 pags., 5 figs., 2 tabs., The structure of Po208 populated through the EC/β+ decay of At208 is investigated using γ-ray spectroscopy at the ISOLDE Decay Station. The presented level scheme contains 27 new excited states and 43 new transitions, as well as a further 50 previously observed γ rays which have been (re)assigned a position. The level scheme is compared to shell model calculations. Through this analysis approximately half of the β-decay strength of At208 is found to proceed via allowed decay and half via first-forbidden decay. The first-forbidden transitions predominantly populate core excited states at high excitation energies, which is qualitatively understood using shell model considerations. This mass region provides an excellent testing ground for the competition between allowed and first-forbidden β-decay calculations, important for the detailed understanding of the nucleosynthesis of heavy elements., The research leading to these results received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under Grant Agreement No. 654002. Support from the European Union Seventh Framework through ENSAR Contract No. 262010, as well as the Science and Technology Facilities Council (U.K.) through Grants No. ST/P005314/1, No. ST/L005743/1, No. ST/J000051/1, No. ST/L005670/1, and No. ST/P004598/1, the German BMBF under Contract No. 05P18PKCIA and “Verbundprojekt 05P2018” as well as Spanish MINECO Grants No. FPA2015-65035- P and No. FPA2017-87568-P, FWO Vlaanderen (Belgium), GOA/2015/010 (BOF KU Leuven), the Excellence of Science Programme (EOS-FWO), the Interuniversity Attraction Poles Programme initiated by the Belgian Science Policy Office (BriX network P7/12), the Polish National Science Centre under Contracts No. UMO-2015/18/M/ST2/00523 and No. UMO-2019/33/N/ST2/03023, National Science Foundation (U.S.) Grant No. PHY1811855, and the Romanian IFA project CERN-RO/ISOLDE is acknowledged. P.H.R. acknowledges support from the U.K. Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy via the National Measurement Office

One of the largest sets of collective excitations built on two-quasiparticle configurations in odd-odd nuclei of the proton-rich A≈120 mass region is reported in 118Cs. Several new rotational bands and long-lived isomers have been identified. The 8+ bandhead of the πh11/2⊗νh11/2 band is a short-lived isomer with a half-life in the nanosecond range, while the 7+ state below it is a long-lived isomer with a half-life of T1/2=0.55(6)μs. Two other long-lived isomers have been identified: a 66-keV transition detected at the MARA focal plane depopulates one of them, indicating a half-life in the microsecond range, while no depopulating transitions have been identified for the other, indicating a much longer half-life. Extensive particle number conserving cranked shell model calculations and alignment analysis have been employed to investigate the rich band structure of 118Cs, which exhibits one of the most complete sets of two-quasiparticle configurations in nuclei close to the proton drip line. peerReviewed

Excited states in the extremely neutron-deficient nucleus 107Te have been identified from two separate experiments using the recoil-decay tagging technique. Two connected structures were observed on the basis of γγ-coincidence relations and tentatively assigned as built on the mixed-parentage νg7/2d5/2 and νh11/2 intruder configurations. The observed structures were compared with large-scale shell-model calculations and total Routhian surface calculations. Collective behavior was discovered to persist in the νh11/2 band of 107Te which highlights the shape-polarizing effect of a single valence neutron occupying the h11/2 intruder orbit as the N=50 shell closure is approached. peerReviewed

The structure of 208Po populated through the EC/β+ decay of 208At is investigated using γ-ray spectroscopy at the ISOLDE Decay Station. The presented level scheme contains 27 new excited states and 43 new transitions, as well as a further 50 previously observed γ rays which have been (re)assigned a position. The level scheme is compared to shell model calculations. Through this analysis approximately half of the β-decay strength of 208At is found to proceed via allowed decay and half via first-forbidden decay. The first-forbidden transitions predominantly populate core excited states at high excitation energies, which is qualitatively understood using shell model considerations. This mass region provides an excellent testing ground for the competition between allowed and first-forbidden β-decay calculations, important for the detailed understanding of the nucleosynthesis of heavy elements. peerReviewed

The mean lifetimes of the lowest energy 2+, 8+ and 9− states in 166Os have been measured using the recoil distance Doppler-shift method in conjunction with a selective recoil-decay tagging technique. These measurements extend studies into the most neutron-deficient mass region accessible to current experimental methods. The B(E2; 2+ → 0+) = 7(2) W.u. extracted from these measurements is markedly lower than those observed in the heavier even-mass Os isotopes. The 8+ and 9− states yield reduced transition probabilities that are consistent with single-particle transitions. While these values may indicate a departure from collective structure, the level scheme and the underlying nuclear configurations can also be interpreted in terms of a simple collective picture. This contrasting behaviour suggests an intriguing dichotomy in the description of heavy transitional nuclei. peerReviewed

A study of the laser-ionized and mass-separated neutron-deficient isotopes $^{176,177,179}$Au was performed using the Resonance Ionization Laser Ion Source and the Windmill detection setup at ISOLDE, CERN. New and improved data on complex fine-structure α decays of the three isotopes were deduced, providing insight into the low-lying levels in the daughter nuclei $^{172,173,175}$Ir. New information on the properties of β-decay daughter products $^{177,179}$Pt was also obtained. From the first in-source laser spectroscopy measurements of the hyperfine structure in the atomic 267.6-nm transition of 176Au, the nuclear magnetic moments for both high- and low-spin α-decaying states were deduced. Together with the values determined from the additivity relations, they were used to propose the most probable spins and configurations for both states. The α-decay branching ratios were determined as $b_{\alpha}$ $\left (^{176}\textrm{Au}^{ls}\right)=58(5)$% and $b_{\alpha}$ $(^{176} \textrm{Au}^{hs})=29(5)$%.

The very neutron-deficient strongly deformed 119Cs nucleus has been studied using the 58Ni(64Zn,3p) reaction and the JUROGAM 3 γ-ray detector array coupled to the MARA recoil-mass separator setup. The excitation energies of all observed bands have been determined, spins and parities have been firmly assigned to most of the observed states. The previously known and the newly identified rotational bands have been extended to very high spin and excitation energy. The configurations of the observed bands are discussed using the particle number conserving cranked shell model. The present study establishes the largest set of rotational bands observed in the proton-rich A≈120 mass region. peerReviewed

Decay spectroscopy of the long-lived states in Tl186 has been performed at the ISOLDE Decay Station at ISOLDE, CERN. The α decay from the low-spin (2-) state in Tl186 was observed for the first time and a half-life of 3.4-0.4+0.5 s was determined. Based on the α-decay energy, the relative positions of the long-lived states were fixed, with the (2-) state as the ground state, the 7(+) state at 77(56) keV, and the 10(-) state at 451(56) keV. The level scheme of the internal decay of the Tl186(10(-)) state [T1/2=3.40(9) s], which was known to decay solely through emission of 374-keV γ-ray transition, was extended and a lower limit for the β-decay branching bβ>5.9(3)% was determined. The extracted retardation factors for the γ decay of the 10(-) state were compared to the available data in neighboring odd-odd thallium isotopes indicating the importance of the πd3/2 shell in the isomeric decay and significant structure differences between Tl184 and Tl186.

Physical review letters 125(19), 192501 (2020). doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.125.192501, Published by APS, College Park, Md.

The beta decay of Hg-207 into the single-proton-hole nucleus Tl-207 has been studied through gamma-ray spectroscopy at the ISOLDE Decay Station (IDS) with the aim of identifying states resulting from coupling of the pi s(1/2)(-1), pi d(3/2)(-1) and pi h(11/2)(-1) shell model orbitals to the collective octupole vibration. Twenty-two states were observed lying between 2.6 and 4.0 MeV, eleven of which were observed for the first time, and 78 new transitions were placed. Two octupole states (s(3/2)-coupled) are identified and three more states (d(3/2)-coupled) are tentatively assigned using spin-parity inferences, while further h(11/2)-coupled states may also have been observed for the first time. Comparisons are made with state-of-the-art large-scale shell model calculations and previous observations made in this region, and systematic underestimation of the energy of the octupole vibrational states is noted. We suggest that in order to resolve the difference in predicted energies for collective and noncollective t = 1 states (t is the number of nucleons breaking the Pb-208 core), the effect of t = 2 mixing may be reduced for octupole-coupled states. The inclusion of mixing with t = 0, 2, 3 excitations is necessary to replicate all t = 1 state energies accurately.

Excited states in the extremely neutron-deficient nucleus Pt-172 were populated via Ru-96(Kr-78, 2p) and Mo-92(Kr-83, 3n) reactions. The level scheme has been extended up to an excitation energy of approximate to 5MeV and tentative spin-parity assignments up to I-pi = 18(+). Linear polarization and angular distribution measurements were used to determine the electromagnetic E1 character of the dipole transitions connecting the positive-parity ground-state band with an excited side-band, firmly establishing it as a negativeparity band. The lowestmember of this negative-parity structure was firmly assigned spin-parity 3(-). In addition, we observed an E3 transition from this 3(-) state to the ground state, providing direct evidence for octupole collectivity in Pt-172. Large-scale shell model (LSSM) and total Routhian surface (TRS) calculations have been performed, supporting the interpretation of the 3(-) state as a collective octupole-vibrational state.

Excited states in the extremely neutron-deficient nucleus 172Pt were populated via 96Ru(78Kr,2p) and 92Mo(83Kr,3n) reactions. The level scheme has been extended up to an excitation energy of ~ 5 MeV and tentative spin-parity assignments up to Iπ = 18+. Linear polarization and angular distribution measurements were used to determine the electromagnetic E1 character of the dipole transitions connecting the positive-parity ground-state band with an excited side-band, firmly establishing it as a negative-parity band. The lowest member of this negative-parity structure was firmly assigned spin-parity 3-. In addition, we observed an E3 transition from this 3- state to the ground state, providing direct evidence for octupole collectivity in 172Pt. Large-scale shell model (LSSM) and total Routhian surface (TRS) calculations have been performed, supporting the interpretation of the 3- state as a collective octupole-vibrational state. QC 20200427

There is a large body of evidence that atomic nuclei can undergo octupole distortion and assume the shape of a pear. This phenomenon is important for measurements of electric-dipole moments of atoms, which would indicate CP violation and hence probe physics beyond the standard model of particle physics. Isotopes of both radon and radium have been identified as candidates for such measurements. Here, we have observed the low-lying quantum states in $^{224}$Rn and $^{226}$Rn by accelerating beams of these radioactive nuclei. We report here additional states not assigned in our 2019 publication. We show that radon isotopes undergo octupole vibrations but do not possess static pear-shapes in their ground states. We conclude that radon atoms provide less favourable conditions for the enhancement of a measurable atomic electric-dipole moment., Comment: Updated from Nat. Comm. 10 (2019) 2473

Physical review / C 101(5), 054311 (2020). doi:10.1103/PhysRevC.101.054311, Published by APS, Woodbury, NY

High-spin states in the N = 128 nucleus ²¹⁸Th have been investigated following fusion–evaporation reactions, using the recoil-decay tagging technique. Due to the short-lived nature of the ground state of ²¹⁸Th prompt γ rays have been correlated with the α decay of the daughter nucleus ²¹⁴Ra. The level scheme representing the decay of excited states has been extended to (16⁺) with the observation of six previously unreported transitions. The observations are compared with the results of shell model calculations and within the context of the systematics of neighbouring nuclei.

The β decay of 207Hg into the single-proton-hole nucleus 207Tl has been studied through γ-ray spectroscopy at the ISOLDE Decay Station (IDS) with the aim of identifying states resulting from coupling of the πs−11/2, πd−13/2, and πh−111/2 shell model orbitals to the collective octupole vibration. Twenty-two states were observed lying between 2.6 and 4.0 MeV, eleven of which were observed for the first time, and 78 new transitions were placed. Two octupole states (s1/2-coupled) are identified and three more states (d3/2-coupled) are tentatively assigned using spin-parity inferences, while further h11/2-coupled states may also have been observed for the first time. Comparisons are made with state-of-the-art large-scale shell model calculations and previous observations made in this region, and systematic underestimation of the energy of the octupole vibrational states is noted. We suggest that in order to resolve the difference in predicted energies for collective and noncollective t=1 states (t is the number of nucleons breaking the 208Pb core), the effect of t=2 mixing may be reduced for octupole-coupled states. The inclusion of mixing with t=0,2,3 excitations is necessary to replicate all t=1 state energies accurately.

Decay spectroscopy of the long-lived states in 186Tl has been performed at the ISOLDE Decay Station at ISOLDE, CERN. The α decay from the low-spin (2−) state in 186Tl was observed for the first time and a half-life of 3.4+0.5−0.4 s was determined. Based on the α-decay energy, the relative positions of the long-lived states were fixed, with the (2−) state as the ground state, the 7(+) state at 77(56) keV, and the 10(−) state at 451(56) keV. The level scheme of the internal decay of the 186Tl(10(−)) state [T1/2=3.40(9) s], which was known to decay solely through emission of 374-keV γ-ray transition, was extended and a lower limit for the β-decay branching bβ>5.9(3)% was determined. The extracted retardation factors for the γ decay of the 10(−) state were compared to the available data in neighboring odd-odd thallium isotopes indicating the importance of the πd3/2 shell in the isomeric decay and significant structure differences between 184Tl and 186Tl. peerReviewed

The β decay of 208Hg into the one-proton hole, one neutron-particle 20881Tl127 nucleus was investigated at CERN-ISOLDE. Shell-model calculations describe well the level scheme deduced, validating the proton-neutron interactions used, with implications for the whole of the N>126, Z

The structure of the doubly magic $^{132}_{50}$Sn$_{82}$ has been investigated at the ISOLDE facility at CERN, populated both by the $\beta^-$decay of $^{132}$In and $\beta^-$-delayed neutron emission of $^{133}$In. The level scheme of $^{132}$Sn is greatly expanded with the addition of 68 $\gamma$-transitions and 17 levels observed for the first time in the $\beta$ decay. The information on the excited structure is completed by new $\gamma$-transitions and states populated in the $\beta$-n decay of $^{133}$In. Improved delayed neutron emission probabilities are obtained both for $^{132}$In and $^{133}$In. Level lifetimes are measured via the Advanced Time-Delayed $\beta\gamma\gamma$(t) fast-timing method. An interpretation of the level structure is given based on the experimental findings and the particle-hole configurations arising from core excitations both from the \textit{N} = 82 and \textit{Z} = 50 shells, leading to positive and negative parity particle-hole multiplets. The experimental information provides new data to challenge the theoretical description of $^{132}$Sn., Comment: 19 pages, 11 figures. Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. C

High-spin states in theN= 128 nucleus(218)Th have been investigated following fusion-evaporation reactions, using the recoil-decay tagging technique. Due to the short-lived nature of the ground state of(218)Th prompt gamma rays have been correlated with the alpha decay of the daughter nucleus(214)Ra. the level scheme representing the decay of excited states has been extended to (16(+)) with the observation of six previously unreported transitions. the observations are compared with the results of shell model calculations and within the context of the systematics of neighbouring nuclei., UK Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC); EU 7th Framework Programme 'Integrating Activities-Transnational Access'European Union (EU) [262010]; Academy of Finland under the Finnish Centre of Excellence Programme 2012-2017 (Nuclear and Accelerator Based Physics Programme at JYFL); Academy of FinlandAcademy of Finland [131665], Financial support for this work has been provided by the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) and by the EU 7th Framework Programme 'Integrating Activities-Transnational Access', Project No.: 262010 (ENSAR) and by the Academy of Finland under the Finnish Centre of Excellence Programme 2012-2017 (Nuclear and Accelerator Based Physics Programme at JYFL). TG acknowledges the support of the Academy of Finland, contract number 131665. the authors acknowledge the support of GAMMAPOOL for the loan of the JUROGAM detectors. the authors would also like to express their gratitude to the technical staff of the Accelerator Laboratory at the University of Jyvaskyla for their support.

Decay spectroscopy of the long-lived states in $^{186}$Tl has been performed at the ISOLDE Decay Station at ISOLDE, CERN. The $\alpha$ decay from the low-spin $(2^-)$ state in $^{186}$Tl was observed for the first time and a half-life of $3.4^{+0.5}_{-0.4}$ s was determined. Based on the $\alpha$-decay energy, the relative positions of the long-lived states were fixed, with the $(2^-)$ state as the ground state, the $7^{(+)}$ state at 77(56)~keV and the $10^{(-)}$ state at 451(56) keV. The level scheme of the internal decay of the $^{186}$Tl($10^{(-)}$) state ($T_{1/2} = 3.40(9)$ s), which was known to decay solely through emission of 374 keV $\gamma$-ray transition, was extended and a lower-limit for the $\beta$-decay branching $b_\beta > 5.9(3)\%$ was determined. The extracted retardation factors for the $\gamma$ decay of the $10^{(-)}$ state were compared to the available data in neighboring odd-odd thallium isotopes indicating the importance of the $\pi d_{3/2}$ shell in the isomeric decay and significant structure differences between $^{184}$Tl and $^{186}$Tl., Comment: 10 pages, 12 figures

18 pags., 11 figs., 4 tabs., The structure of the doubly magic Sn8250132 has been investigated at the ISOLDE facility at CERN, populated both by the β-decay of In132 and β - delayed neutron emission of In133. The level scheme of Sn132 is greatly expanded with the addition of 68 γ transitions and 17 levels observed for the first time in the β decay. The information on the excited structure is completed by new γ transitions and states populated in the β-n decay of In133. Improved delayed neutron emission probabilities are obtained both for In132 and In133. Level lifetimes are measured via the advanced time-delayed βγγ(t) fast-timing method. An interpretation of the level structure is given based on the experimental findings and the particle-hole configurations arising from core excitations both from the N = 82 and Z = 50 shells, leading to positive- and negative-parity particle-hole multiplets. The experimental information provides new data to challenge the theoretical description of Sn132., We acknowledge the support of the ISOLDE Collaboration and the ISOLDE technical teams, and by the European Union Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No. 654002. This work was partially funded by the Spanish government via Projects No. FPA2015- 65035-P, No. FPA-64969-P, No. FPA2017-87568-P, and No. RTI2018-098868-B-I00; the Polish National Science Center under Contracts No. UMO-2015/18/E/ST2/00217, No. UMO-2015/18/M/ST2/00523, and No. UMO2019/33/N/ST2/03023; the Portuguese FCT via CERN/FIS-NUC/0004/2015 project; the German BMBF under Contract No. 05P18PKCIA; the Romanian IFA Grant CERN/ISOLDE; and by grants from the U.K. Science and Technology Facilities Council, the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO, Belgium), the Excellence of Science program (EOS, FWO-FNRS, Belgium), and the GOA/2015/010 (BOF KU Leuven). J.B. acknowledges support from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid under the Predoctoral Grant No. CT27/16-CT28/16

The structure of Si34 was studied through γ spectroscopy separately in the β- decays of Mg34 and Al34 at the ISOLDE facility of CERN. Different configurations in Si34 were populated independently from the two recently identified β-decaying states in Al34 having spin-parity assignments Jπ=4- dominated by the normal configuration π(d5/2)-1 - ν(f7/2) and Jπ=1+ by the intruder configuration π(d5/2)-1 - ν(d3/2)-1(f7/2)2. The paper reports on spectroscopic properties of Si34 such as an extended level scheme, spin and parity assignments based on log(ft) values and γ-ray branching ratios, absolute β feeding intensities, and neutron emission probabilities. A total of 11 newly identified levels and 26 transitions were added to the previously known level scheme of Si34. Large scale shell-model calculations using the SDPF-U-MIX interaction, able to treat higher order intruder configurations, are compared with the new results and conclusions are drawn concerning the predictive power of SDPF-U-MIX, the N=20 shell gap, the level of mixing between normal and intruder configurations for the 01+, 02+, and 21+ states, and the absence of triaxial deformation in Si34.

Gamow-Teller β decay is forbidden if the number of nodes in the radial wave functions of the initial and final states is different. This Δn=0 requirement plays a major role in the β decay of heavy neutron-rich nuclei, affecting the nucleosynthesis through the increased half-lives of nuclei on the astrophysical r-process pathway below both Z=50 (for N>82) and Z=82 (for N>126). The level of forbiddenness of the Δn=1ν1g 9/2 →π0g 7/2 transition has been investigated from the β − decay of the ground state of 207 Hg into the single-proton-hole nucleus 207 Tl in an experiment at the ISOLDE Decay Station. From statistical observational limits on possible γ-ray transitions depopulating the π0g 7/2 −1 state in 207 Tl, an upper limit of 3.9×10 −3 % was obtained for the probability of this decay, corresponding to log⁡ft>8.8 within a 95% confidence limit. This is the most stringent test of the Δn=0 selection rule to date.

11 pags., 10 figs., 5 tabs.-- Open Access funded by Creative Commons Atribution Licence 4.0, The structure of Si34 was studied through γ spectroscopy separately in the β- decays of Mg34 and Al34 at the ISOLDE facility of CERN. Different configurations in Si34 were populated independently from the two recently identified β-decaying states in Al34 having spin-parity assignments Jπ=4- dominated by the normal configuration π(d5/2)-1 - ν(f7/2) and Jπ=1+ by the intruder configuration π(d5/2)-1 - ν(d3/2)-1(f7/2)2. The paper reports on spectroscopic properties of Si34 such as an extended level scheme, spin and parity assignments based on log(ft) values and γ-ray branching ratios, absolute β feeding intensities, and neutron emission probabilities. A total of 11 newly identified levels and 26 transitions were added to the previously known level scheme of Si34. Large scale shell-model calculations using the SDPF-U-MIX interaction, able to treat higher order intruder configurations, are compared with the new results and conclusions are drawn concerning the predictive power of SDPF-U-MIX, the N=20 shell gap, the level of mixing between normal and intruder configurations for the 01+, 02+, and 21+ states, and the absence of triaxial deformation in Si34., This work was partially supported by a grant of the Romanian National Authority for Scientific Research and Innovation, CNCS-UEFISCDI project number PN-II-RU-TE- 2014-4-1455, by the Romanian IFA Grant CERN/ISOLDE, by Research Foundation Flanders (FWO-Belgium), by GOA/2015/010 (BOF KU Leuven), and by the Interuniversity Attraction Poles Programme initiated by the Belgian Science Policy Office (BriX network P7/12). Support from the U.K. Science and Technology Facilities Council, the European Union Seventh Framework through ENSAR (Contract No. 262010), the MINECO (Spain) grants FPA2017-87568-P, FPA2015-64969-P, FPA2014-57196, FPA2015-65035-P, Programme “Centros de Excelencia Severo Ochoa” SEV-2016- 0597, the MEYS project SPIRAL2-CZ,EF16-013/0001679, the National Research, Development and Innovation Fund of Hungary via Project No. K128947, the European Regional Development Fund (Contract No. GINOP-2.3.3-15-2016- 00034), the German BMBF under contract 05P18PKCIA (ISOLDE), and “Verbundprojekt 05P2018” is also acknowledged. I.K. was supported by the National Research, Development and Innovation Office of Hungary (NKFIH), Contract No. PD 124717.

International audience; Background: The neutron-deficient lead region provides a range of nuclear phenomena, including isomerism at low energies. This phenomenon can be studied by α decay because the degree of hindrance of α decay provides information on the change in nuclear structure of connected states. Purpose: The aim of this work was to investigate the α-decay properties of $^{200,202}$FR and daughter products. Method: Neutron-deficient francium nuclei are produced at ISOLDE-CERN bombarding a UCx target with 1.4 GeV protons. Surface ionization and mass-separation techniques were employed to provide a pure radioactive ion beam at a radiation-detection setup. Results: Due to the very high statistics and the high beam purity, improved decay data for $^{202}$FR and its daughters were obtained. In particular, this data set allowed us to identify many fine-structure α lines with a relative reduced α-decay width up to five orders of magnitude lower as the strongest ground-to-ground state or isomeric-to-isomeric state α-decay transition. In addition, several half-life values were extracted with similar or better precision as compared with the literature. Conclusions: The observation of crossover transitions positioned the isomeric high-spin level of $^{198}$At at an excitation energy of 265(3) keV. Half-life values of 4.47(5) s and 1.28(10) s were extracted for the ground state and isomeric state of $^{198}$At and 52(3) ms for the ground-state decay of $^{200}$FR. Furthermore, α-decay schemes for Fr202 and its daughter $^{198}$At could be constructed.

10 pags., 8 figs., 1 tab.-- Open Access funded by Creative Commons Atribution Licence 4.0, Excited states in Sn133 were investigated through the ß decay of In133 at the ISOLDE facility. The ISOLDE Resonance Ionization Laser Ion Source (RILIS) provided isomer-selective ionization for In133, allowing us to study separately, and in detail, the ß-decay branch of In133J¿=(9/2+) ground state and its J¿=(1/2-) isomer. Thanks to the large spin difference of the two ß-decaying states of In133, it is possible to investigate separately the lower and higher spin states in the daughter, Sn133, and thus to probe independently different single-particle and single-hole levels. We report here new ¿ transitions observed in the decay of In133, including those assigned to the deexcitation of the neutron-unbound states., We acknowledge the support of the ISOLDE Collaboration and technical teams. This work was supported in part by the Polish National Science Center under Contract No. UMO-2015/18/E/ST2/00217 and under Contract No. UMO-2015/18/M/ST2/00523, by the Spanish MINECO via FPA2015-65035-P project, by the Portuguese FCT via CERN/FIS-NUC/0004/2015 and CERN-FIS-PAR-0005-2017 projects. The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No. 654002.

The new nuclides 165Pt and 170Hg were produced in the reactions 92Mo(78Kr,5n) and 96Ru(78Kr,4n) at bombarding energies of 418 MeV and 390 MeV, respectively. For 170Hg an α-particle energy of Eα=7590(30)keV and half-life of t1/2=0.08+0.40−0.04ms were deduced, while for 165Pt the corresponding values were 7272(14) keV and 0.26+0.26−0.09ms. Comparison of the reduced α-decay widths with systematics indicates that both α decays are unhindered. Although combining the measured α-decay Q values with extrapolated masses suggests that both new nuclides are unbound to two-proton emission by more than 1 MeV, their α-decay half-lives are too short for this decay mode to compete. Improved data were also obtained for 166,167Pt, produced via the 96Ru(78Kr,α4n) and 96Ru(78Kr,α3n) reactions at bombarding energies of 390 MeV and 418 MeV. peerReviewed

Gamow-Teller β decay is forbidden if the number of nodes in the radial wave functions of the initial and final states is different. This Δn = 0 requirement plays a major role in the β decay of heavy neutron-rich nuclei, affecting the nucleosynthesis through the increased half-lives of nuclei on the astrophysical r-process pathway below both Z = 50 (for N > 82) and Z = 82 (for N >126). The level of forbiddenness of the Δn = 1ν1g9/2 → π0g7/2 transition has been investigated from the β− decay of the ground state of 207Hg into the single-proton-hole nucleus 207Tl in an experiment at the ISOLDE Decay Station. From statistical observational limits on possible γ-ray transitions depopulating the π0g7/2−1 state in 207Tl, an upper limit of 3.9 × 10−3% was obtained for the probability of this decay, corresponding to log ft > 8.8 within a 95% confidence limit. This is the most stringent test of the Δn = 0 selection rule to date. peerReviewed

The structure of $^{34}$Si was studied through $��$ spectroscopy separately in the $��^-$ decays of $^{34}$Mg and $^{34}$Al at the ISOLDE facility of CERN. Different configurations in $^{34}$Si were populated independently from the two recently identified $��$-decaying states in $^{34}$Al having spin-parity assignments $J^��= 4^-$ dominated by the normal configuration $��(d_{5/2})^{-1} \otimes ��(f_{7/2})$ and $J^��= 1^+$ by the intruder configuration $��(d_{5/2})^{-1} \otimes ��(d_{3/2})^{-1}(f_{7/2})^{2}$. The paper reports on spectroscopic properties of $^{34}$Si such as an extended level scheme, spin and parity assignments based on log($ft$) values and $��$-ray branching ratios, absolute $��$ feeding intensities and neutron emission probabilities. A total of 11 newly identified levels and 26 transitions were added to the previously known level scheme of $^{34}$Si. Large scale shell-model calculations using the {\sc sdpf-u-mix} interaction, able to treat higher order intruder configurations, are compared with the new results and conclusions are drawn concerning the predictive power of {\sc sdpf-u-mix}, the $N=20$ shell gap, the level of mixing between normal and intruder configurations for the 0$_1^+$, 0$_2^+$ and 2$_1^+$ states and the absence of triaxial deformation in $^{34}$Si.

This letter reports lifetime measurements of excited states in the odd-N nucleus W-163 using the recoil-distance Doppler shift method to probe the core polarising effect of the i(13/2) neutron orbital on the underlying soft triaxial even-even core. The ratio B(E2:21/2(+) -> 17/2(+))/B(E2:17/2(+) -> 13/2(+)) is consistent with the predictions of the collective rotational model. The deduced B(E2) values provide insights into the validity of collective model predictions for heavy transitional nuclei and a geometric origin for the anomalous B(E2) ratios observed in nearby even-even nuclei is proposed. (C) 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.

The new nuclides \(^{165}\mathrm{Pt}\) and \(^{170}\mathrm{Hg}\) were produced in the reactions \(^{92}\mathrm{Mo}(^{78}\mathrm{Kr},5n)\) and \(^{96}\mathrm{Ru}(^{78}\mathrm{Kr},4n)\) at bombarding energies of 418 MeV and 390 MeV, respectively. For \(^{170}\mathrm{Hg}\) an α-particle energy of \(E_{α} = 7590(30)\) keV and half-life of \(t_{1/2} = 0.08^{+0.40}_{−0.04}\)ms were deduced, while for \(^{165}\mathrm{Pt}\) the corresponding values were 7272(14) keV and \(0.26^{+0.26}_{−0.09}\)ms. Comparison of the reduced α-decay widths with systematics indicates that both α decays are unhindered. Although combining the measured α-decay Q values with extrapolated masses suggests that both new nuclides are unbound to two-proton emission by more than 1 MeV, their α-decay half-lives are too short for this decay mode to compete. Improved data were also obtained for \(^{166,167}\mathrm{Pt}\), produced via the \(^{96}\mathrm{Ru}(^{78}\mathrm{Kr},α4n)\) and \(^{96}\mathrm{Ru}(^{78}\mathrm{Kr},α3n)\) reactions at bombarding energies of 390 MeV and 418 MeV.

6 pags., 4 figs. -- Open Access funded by Creative Commons Atribution Licence 4.0, The C-12(alpha,gamma)O-16 reaction plays a central role in astrophysics, but its cross section at energies relevant for astrophysical applications is only poorly constrained by laboratory data. The reduced a width, gamma(11), of the bound 1(-) level in O-16 is particularly important to determine the cross section. The magnitude of gamma(11) is determined via sub-Coulomb a-transfer reactions or the beta-delayed a decay of N-16, but the latter approach is presently hampered by the lack of sufficiently precise data on the beta-decay branching ratios. Here we report improved branching ratios for the bound 1(-) level [b(beta,11) = (5.02 +/- 0.10) x 10(-2)] and for beta-delayed alpha emission [b(beta alpha) = (1.59 +/- 0.06) x 10(-5)]. Our value for b(beta alpha) is 33% larger than previously held, leading to a substantial increase in gamma(11). Our revised value for gamma(11) is in good agreement with the value obtained in a-transfer studies and the weighted average of the two gives a robust and precise determination of gamma(11), which provides significantly improved constraints on the C-12(alpha,gamma) cross section in the energy range relevant to hydrostatic He burning., This work has been supported by the European Research Council under the ERC starting Grant Long Beamtime Experiments in Nuclear Astrophysics, No. 307447, the Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under Grant Agreement No. 654002, the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through Projects No. FPA2015-64969- P, FPA2015-65035-P, and FPA2017-87568-P, the Romanian Institutul de Fizica Atomica Grant CERN/ISOLDE, the United Kingdom Science and Technology Facilities Council, the Fonds voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek- Vlaanderen (Belgium) and GOA/2010/010 (Bijzonder OnderzoeksFonds KU Leuven), the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research under Contract No. 05P15PKCIA (ISOLDE) and Verbundprojekt 05P2015. B. J. acknowledges support from The Royal Society of Arts and Sciences in Gothenburg and OSK from the Villum Foundation through Project No. 10117.

A multiparticle spin-trap isomeric state having a half-life of 179(4) ns and lying 2601 keV above the yrast 10(+) state in Lu-156 has been discovered. The Lu-156 nuclei were produced by bombarding isotopically enriched Cd-106 targets with beams of Ni-58 ions, separated in flight using the gas-filled separator RITU and their decays were measured using the GREAT spectrometer. Analysis of the main decay path that populates yrast states observed previously suggests a spin-parity assignment of 19(-) for the isomeric state, which is consistent with isomeric states identified in the N = 85 isotones. Comparison with other decay paths in Lu-156 indicates that the [pi h(11/)(2)(-1) circle times nu h(9/2)]10(+) state at the bottom of the yrast sequence is likely to be the a-decaying isomeric state, with the [pi h(11/)(2)(-1) circle times nu f(7/2)]9(+) state lying 62 keV above it. The relative ordering of the lowest-lying 9(+) and 10(+) states is inverted in Lu-156 compared with its odd-odd isotones. QC 20180821

The ^{12}C(α,γ)^{16}O reaction plays a central role in astrophysics, but its cross section at energies relevant for astrophysical applications is only poorly constrained by laboratory data. The reduced α width, γ_{11}, of the bound 1^{-} level in ^{16}O is particularly important to determine the cross section. The magnitude of γ_{11} is determined via sub-Coulomb α-transfer reactions or the β-delayed α decay of ^{16}N, but the latter approach is presently hampered by the lack of sufficiently precise data on the β-decay branching ratios. Here we report improved branching ratios for the bound 1^{-} level [b_{β,11}=(5.02±0.10)×10^{-2}] and for β-delayed α emission [b_{βα}=(1.59±0.06)×10^{-5}]. Our value for b_{βα} is 33% larger than previously held, leading to a substantial increase in γ_{11}. Our revised value for γ_{11} is in good agreement with the value obtained in α-transfer studies and the weighted average of the two gives a robust and precise determination of γ_{11}, which provides significantly improved constraints on the ^{12}C(α,γ) cross section in the energy range relevant to hydrostatic He burning. ispartof: PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS vol:121 issue:14 ispartof: location:United States status: published