Search

Decay spectroscopy of the odd-proton nuclei $^{249}$Md and $^{251}$Md has been performed. High-K isomeric states were identified for the first time in these two nuclei through the measurement of their electromagnetic decay. An isomeric state with a half-life of 2.8(5) ms and an excitation energy $\ge 910$ keV was found in $^{249}$Md. In $^{251}$Md, an isomeric state with a half-life of 1.4(3) s and an excitation energy $\ge 844$ keV was found. Similarly to the neighbouring $^{255}$Lr, these two isomeric states are interpreted as 3 quasi-particle high-K states and compared to new theoretical calculations. Excited nuclear configurations were calculated within two scenarios: via blocking nuclear states located in proximity to the Fermi surface or/and using the quasiparticle Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer method. Relevant states were selected on the basis of the microscopic-macroscopic model with a deformed Woods–Saxon potential. The most probable candidates for the configurations of K-isomeric states in Md nuclei are proposed. Decay spectroscopy of the odd-proton nuclei $^{249}$Md and $^{251}$Md has been performed. High-$K$ isomeric states were identified for the first time in these two nuclei through the measurement of their electromagnetic decay. An isomeric state with a half-life of $2.8(5)$ ms and an excitation energy $\geq 910$ keV was found in $^{249}$Md. In $^{251}$Md, an isomeric state with a half-life of $1.4(3)$ s and an excitation energy $\geq 844$ keV was found. Similarly to the neighbouring $^{255}$Lr, these two isomeric states are interpreted as 3 quasi-particle high-$K$ states and compared to new theoretical calculations. Excited nuclear configurations were calculated within two scenarios: via blocking nuclear states located in proximity to the Fermi surface or/and using the quasiparticle Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer method. Relevant states were selected on the basis of the microscopic-macroscopic model with a deformed Woods-Saxon potential. The most probable candidates for the configurations of $K$-isomeric states in Md nuclei are proposed.

International audience; Prolate-oblate shape coexistence close to the ground state in the strongly-deformed proton-rich A≈120 nuclei is reported for the first time. One of the four reported bands in 119Cs, built on a 11/2− state at 670 keV, consists of nearly degenerate signature partners, and has properties which unequivocally indicate the strongly-coupled πh11/2[505]11/2− configuration associated with oblate shape. Together with the decoupled πh11/2[541]3/2− band built on the 11/2− prolate state at 110 keV, for which a half-life of T1/2=55(5)μs has been measured, the new bands bring evidence of shape coexistence at low spin in the proton-rich strongly deformed A≈120 nuclei, a phenomenon predicted since long time, but not yet observed. Calculations using the particle-number conserving cranked shell model and two dimensional tilted axis cranking covariant density functional theory support and well reproduce the observed oblate and prolate coexisting low-energy states in 119Cs.

Two new excited bands built on the πh11/2 configuration have been identified in Nd135 in addition to the known πh11/2 band. The energy spectra of the excited bands and the available electromagnetic transition probabilities are in good agreement with theoretical results obtained using quasiparticle-plus-triaxial-rotor model calculations. The properties of the bands identify them as tilted precession bands instead of wobbling bands. Our results give a new insight into the interpretation of the low-lying bands in odd-A mass nuclei, and can stimulate future studies to address the nuclear triaxiality.

Lifetime measurements in $$^{178}$$ 178 Pt with excited states de-exciting through $$\gamma $$ γ -ray transitions and internal electron conversions have been performed. Ionic charges were selected by the in-flight mass separator MARA and measured at the focal plane in coincidence with the $$4_1^+\rightarrow 2_1^+$$ 4 1 + → 2 1 + $$257\,$$ 257 keV $$\gamma $$ γ -ray transition detected using the JUROGAM 3 spectrometer. The resulting charge-state distributions were analysed using the differential decay curve method (DDCM) framework to obtain a lifetime value of 430(20) ps for the $$2_1^+$$ 2 1 + state. This work builds on a method that combines the charge plunger technique with the DDCM analysis. As an alternative analysis, ions were selected in coincidence with the $$^{178}$$ 178 Pt alpha decay ($$E_{\mathrm {alpha}} = 5.458(5)$$ E alpha = 5.458 ( 5 ) MeV) at the focal plane. Lifetime information was obtained by fitting a two-state Bateman equation to the decay curve with the lifetime of individual states defined by a single quadrupole moment. This yielded a lifetime value of 430(50) ps for the $$2_1^+$$ 2 1 + state, and 54(6) ps for the $$4_1^+$$ 4 1 + state. An analysis method based around the Bateman equation will become especially important when using the charge plunger method for the cases where utilising coincidences between prompt $$\gamma $$ γ rays and recoils is not feasible.

Fine structure in the α decay of Th90221, populating excited states in Ra88217, was studied using αγ-coincidence spectroscopy. Two α-decay branches from Th221 have been newly observed, with Eα(keV)[bα(%)]=7951(8)[0.14(3)] and 8247(3)[1.51(12)], together with three previously known branches. Also, two new states in Ra217 were identified at E = 177 and 227 keV. The ground-state configurations of the odd-A, N = 131 transitional isotones above Pb208 are interpreted from their α-decay fine structure systematics and considered in terms of predictions using spherical shell and reflection-asymmetric models.

Physical review / C 102(5), 054304 (2020). doi:10.1103/PhysRevC.102.054304, Published by Inst., Woodbury, NY

The odd-Z Md251 nucleus was studied using combined γ-ray and conversion-electron in-beam spectroscopy. Besides the previously observed rotational band based on the [521]1/2− configuration, another rotational structure has been identified using γ-γ coincidences. The use of electron spectroscopy allowed the rotational bands to be observed over a larger rotational frequency range. Using the transition intensities that depend on the gyromagnetic factor, a [514]7/2− single-particle configuration has been inferred for this band, i.e., the ground-state band. A physical background that dominates the electron spectrum with an intensity of ≃60% was well reproduced by simulating a set of unresolved excited bands. Moreover, a detailed analysis of the intensity profile as a function of the angular momentum provided a method for deriving the orbital gyromagnetic factor, namely gK=0.69−0.16+0.19 for the ground-state band. The odd-Z Md249 was studied using γ-ray in-beam spectroscopy. Evidence for octupole correlations resulting from the mixing of the Δl=Δj=3 [521]3/2− and [633]7/2+ Nilsson orbitals were found in both Md249,251. A surprising similarity of the Md251 ground-state band transition energies with those of the excited band of Lr255 has been discussed in terms of identical bands. Skyrme-Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov calculations were performed to investigate the origin of the similarities between these bands.

The jurogam 3 spectrometer has been constructed for in-beam $$\gamma $$γ-ray spectroscopy experiments in the Accelerator Laboratory of the University of Jyväskylä, Finland. jurogam 3 consists of germanium-detector modules in a compact geometry surrounding a target to measure $$\gamma $$γ rays emitted from radioactive nuclei. jurogam 3 can be employed in conjunction with one of two recoil separators, the mara vacuum-mode separator or the ritu gas-filled separator, and other ancillary devices.

Decay spectroscopy of No250 has been performed using digital electronics and pulse-shape analysis of the fast nuclear decays for the first time. Previous studies of No250 reported two distinct fission decay lifetimes, related to the direct fission of the ground state and to the decay of an isomeric state but without the possibility to determine if the isomeric state decayed directly via fission or via internal electromagnetic transitions to the ground state. The data obtained in the current experiment allowed the puzzle to finally be resolved, attributing the shorter half-life of t1/2=3.8±0.3μs to the ground state and the longer half-life t1/2=34.9−3.2+3.9μs to the decay of an isomeric state. No250 becomes, thus, one of a very few examples of very heavy nuclei with an isomeric state living considerably longer than its ground state. This phenomenon has important consequences for the nuclear-structure models aiming to determine the borders of the island of stability of superheavy elements.

A projectile Coulomb-excitation experiment was performed at the radioactive ion beam facility HIE-ISOLDE at CERN. The radioactive 140Nd and 142Sm ions were post accelerated to the energy of 4.62 MeV/A and impinged on a 1.45 mg/cm2-thin 208Pb target. The γ rays depopulating the Coulomb-excited states were recorded by the HPGe-array MINIBALL. The scattered charged particles were detected by a double-sided silicon strip detector in forward direction. Experimental γ-ray intensities were used for the determination of electromagnetic transition matrix elements. Preliminary results for the reduced transition strength of the B ( M 1 ; 2 3 + → 2 1 + ) = 0.35 ( 19 ) μ N 2 of 140Nd and a first estimation for 142Sm have been deduced using the Coulomb-excitation calculation software GOSIA. The 2 3 + states of 140Nd and 142Sm show indications of being the main fragment of the proton-neutron mixed-symmetry 2 1 , ms + state.

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.

AGATA Collaboration, New physics opportunities are opening up by the Advanced Gamma Tracking Array, AGATA, as it evolves to the full 4π instrument. AGATA is a high-resolution γ-ray spectrometer, solely built from highly segmented high-purity Ge detectors, capable of measuring γ rays from a few tens of keV to beyond 10 MeV, with unprecedented efficiency, excellent position resolution for individual γ-ray interactions, and very high count-rate capability. As a travelling detector AGATA will be employed at all major current and near-future European research facilities delivering stable and radioactive ion beams., The AGATA project has been supported by the European Structural Funds FSE FEDER, the Academy of Finland FIRI program, Finland, the Direction de Recherches Fondamentales of CEA, France, the Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules (IN2P3) of CNRS, France, the Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF), Germany, the Institute of Nuclear Research of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (ATOMKI), Hungary, the IstitutoNazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), Italy, theNational Science Center (NCN), Poland, the Knut and AliceWallenberg foundation (Sweden), the Swedish Research Council, the Conselleria d’Educació, Investigació, Cultura i Esport, Generalitat Valenciana and Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, Spain, the Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Ara¸stirma Kurumu (TÜBITAK), Turkey, and the United Kingdom Research and Innovation – Science and Technology Facilities Council (UKRI-STFC).

Two new bands have been identified in $^{137}$Nd from a high-statistics JUROGAM II gamma-ray spectroscopy experiment. Constrained density functional theory and particle rotor model calculations are used to assign configurations and investigate the band properties, which are well described and understood. It is demonstrated that these two new bands can be interpreted as chiral partners of previously known three-quasiparticle positive- and negative-parity bands. The newly observed chiral doublet bands in $^{137}$Nd represent an important support to the existence of multiple chiral bands in nuclei. The present results constitute the missing stone in the series of Nd nuclei showing multiple chiral bands, which becomes the most extended sequence of odd–even and even-even nuclei presenting multiple chiral bands in the Segré chart. Two new bands have been identified in $^{137}$Nd from a high-statistics JUROGAM II gamma-ray spectroscopy experiment. Constrained density functional theory and particle rotor model calculations are used to assign configurations and investigate the band properties, which are well described and understood. It is demonstrated that these two new bands can be interpreted as chiral partners of previously known three-quasiparticle positive- and negative-parity bands. The newly observed chiral doublet bands in $^{137}$Nd represent an important support to the existence of multiple chiral bands in nuclei. The present results constitute the missing stone in the series of Nd nuclei showing multiple chiral bands, which becomes the most extended sequence of nuclei presenting multiple chiral bands in the Segr\'e chart.

Data analysis of the Coulomb excitation experiment of the exotic 206Hg nucleus, recently performed at CERN’s HIE-ISOLDE facility, needs to account for the contribution to target excitation due to the strongly-present beam contaminant 130Xe. In this paper, the contamination subtraction procedure is presented.

The extremely neutron-deficient isotopes 177,179Au were studied by means of in-beam ?-ray spectroscopy. Specific tagging techniques, ?-decay tagging in 177Au and isomer tagging in 179Au, were used for these studies. Feeding of positive-parity, nearly spherical states, which are associated with 2d3/2 and 3s1/2 proton-hole configurations, from the 1i13/2 proton-intruder configuration was observed in 177Au. Such a decay path has no precedent in odd-Au isotopes and it is explained by the effect of mixing of wave functions of the initial state. © 2020, 262010 2/0129/17 Science and Technology Facilities Council, STFC European Research Council, ERC: 203481 Academy of Finland: 131665 Agentúra na Podporu V?skumu a V?voja, APVV: APVV-15-0225, The authors express their gratitude to the staff of the Accelerator Laboratory at the University of Jyväskylä for their excellent technical support. This work has been supported by the EU-FP7-IA project ENSAR (No. 262010 ), the Academy of Finland (CoE in Nuclear and Accelerator Based Physics, grant to T.G., Contract No. 131665 ), the European Research Council through the project SHESTRUCT (Grant Agreement No. 203481 ), the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council , the Slovak Research and Development Agency under Contract No. APVV-15-0225 , and the Slovak Grant Agency VEGA (Contract No. 2/0129/17 ).

Excited states in the extremely neutron-deficient nucleus $$^{172}{\mathrm {Pt}}$$172Pt were populated via $$^{96}\mathrm {Ru}(^{78}\mathrm {Kr},2p)$$96Ru(78Kr,2p) and $$^{92}\mathrm {Mo}(^{83}\mathrm {Kr},3n)$$92Mo(83Kr,3n) reactions. The level scheme has been extended up to an excitation energy of $$\approx 5~\hbox {MeV}$$≈5MeV and tentative spin-parity assignments up to $$I^\pi = 18^+$$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 $$3^-$$3-. In addition, we observed an E3 transition from this $$3^-$$3- state to the ground state, providing direct evidence for octupole collectivity in $$^{172}{\mathrm {Pt}}$$172Pt. Large-scale shell model (LSSM) and total Routhian surface (TRS) calculations have been performed, supporting the interpretation of the $$3^-$$3- state as a collective octupole-vibrational state.

8 pags., 9 figs., We measured absolute cross sections for neutron transfer channels populated in the Rb-94 + Pb-208 binary reaction. Cross sections have been extracted identifying directly the lead isotopes with the high efficiency MINIBALL gamma-ray array coupled to a particle detector combined with a radioactive Rb-94 beam delivered at E-lab = 6.2 MeV/nucleon by the HIE-ISOLDE facility. We observed sizable cross sections in the neutron-rich mass region, where the heavy partner acquires neutrons. A fair agreement between the measured cross sections with those from GRAZING calculations gives confidence in the cross-section predictions of more neutron-rich nuclei produced via a larger number of transferred nucleons., This work was partly supported by the HORIZON 2020 ENSAR2 Grant Agreement no. 654002, and Marie Skłodowska-Curie COFUND (EU-CERN) grant agreement no. 665779, and by STFC (U.K.). This work has been supported in part by the Croatian Science Foundation under Project no. 7194 and in part under Project no. IP-2018-01- 1257, and the German BMBF under contract 05P18PKCIA + Verbundprojekt 05P2018

The quenching of the experimental spectroscopic factor for proton emission from the short-lived $d_{3/2}$ isomeric state in $^{151m}$Lu was a long-standing problem. In the present work, proton emission from this isomer has been reinvestigated in an experiment at the Accelerator Laboratory of the University of Jyv\"{a}skyl\"{a}. The proton-decay energy and half-life of this isomer were measured to be 1295(5) keV and 15.4(8) $\mu$s, respectively, in agreement with another recent study. These new experimental data can resolve the discrepancy in the spectroscopic factor calculated using the spherical WKB approximation. Using the R-matrix approach it is found that the proton formation probability indicates no significant hindrance for the proton decay of $^{151m}$Lu., Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures

The charge compensation mechanisms in U 1-x Gd x O 2 and Th 1-x Gd x O 2-x/2 have been systematically studied using X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) upon gradually increasing the Gd content. Gd doped nuclear fuels are widely used for optimizing the fresh core neutronics, yet when Gd 3+ is substituted into U 4+ or Th 4+ lattice position in UO 2 or ThO 2 , respectively, charge must be compensated for charge neutrality. In U 1-x Gd x O 2 the general hypothesis has been that the U 4+ will oxidise to U 5+ /U 6+ while in Th 1-x Gd x O 2-x/2 the fixed Th 4+ valence requires generation of O vacancies. Our XAS results for a series of technologically relevant Gd contents (x = 0.04 to 0.14) in U 1-x Gd x O 2 clearly demonstrate that upon increasing the Gd content U 5+ is formed inducing slight increase in the U coordination number and contraction for the U-O distances while the Gd local environment remains virtually unchanged. For the Th 1-x Gd x O 2-x/2 larger Gd fractions were applied (x = 0.10 to 0.34). Nonetheless, both Gd and Th local environments show changes upon increasing the Gd content; the average Gd-O and Th-O distances decrease gradually and the Gd and Th coordination numbers follow the expected trend considering the O vacancy formation to obtain charge neutrality. Finally, comparison to Gd 2 O 3 allowed us to propose that one of the Gd L 3 -edge XANES resonance features is directly connected to the generation of O vacancies.

Excited states have been identified in the heaviest known even-Z N = 84 isotone 158W, which lies in a region of one-proton emitters and the two-proton drip line. The observation of γ-ray transitions feeding the ground state establishes the excitation energy of the yrast 6+ state confirming the spin-gap nature of the α-decaying 8+ isomer. The 8+ isomer is also expected to be unbound to two-proton emission but no evidence for this decay mode was observed. An upper limit for the two-proton decay branch has been deduced as b 2 p ≤ 0.17% at the 90% confidence level. The possibility of observing two-proton emission from multiparticle isomers in nearby nuclides is considered.

© 2019 American Physical Society. An analysis technique has been developed in order to mitigate energy summing due to sequential short-lived α decays from nuclei implanted into a silicon detector. Using this technique, α-decay spectroscopy of the N=130 isotones Ra218 (Z=88) and Th220 (Z=90) has been performed. The energies of the α particles emitted in the Ra218→Rn214 and Th220→Ra216 ground-state-to-ground-state decays have been measured to be 8381(4) keV and 8818(13) keV, respectively. The half-lives of the ground states of Ra218 and Th220 have been measured to be 25.99(10) μs and 10.4(4) μs, respectively. The half-lives of the ground states of the α-decay daughters, Rn214 and Ra216, have been measured to be 259(3) ns and 161(11) ns, respectively. Fine structure in the α decay of Ra218 has been observed for the first time, populating the 695-keV 21+ state in Rn214. The fine-structure α decay has an α-particle energy of 7715(40) keV and branching ratio bα=0.123(11)%.

The structure of low-spin states originating from shape-coexisting configurations in $^{68}_{40}$Ni$_{28}$ was directly probed via the two-neutron transfer reaction $^{66}$Ni$(t,p)^{68}$Ni in inverse kinematics using a radioactive ion beam on a radioactive target. The direct feeding to the first excited 0$^+$ state was measured for center-of-mass angles 4°–16° and amounts to an integral of 4.2(16)% relative to the ground state. The observed difference in feeding of the 0$^+$ states is explained by the transfer of neutrons, mainly in the $pf$ shell below $N=40$ for the ground state, and across $N=40$ in the $g_{9/2}$ orbital for the 0$_2^+$, based on second-order distorted-wave Born approximation calculations combined with state-of-the-art shell-model two-nucleon amplitudes. However, the direct feeding to the 2$_1^+$ state [29(3)%] is incompatible with these calculations.

Lifetime measurements of excited states in Hg-178 have been performed using the Rh-103(Kr-78, p2n) reaction at a beam energy of 354 MeV. The recoil-decay tagging (RDT) technique was applied to select the Hg-178 nuclei and associate the prompt gamma rays with the correlated characteristic ground-state alpha decay. Lifetimes of the four lowest yrast states of Hg-178 have been determined using the recoil distance Doppler-shift (RDDS) method. The experimental data are compared to theoretical predictions with focus on shape coexistence. The results confirm the shift of the deformed prolate structures to higher lying states but also indicate their increasing deformation with decreasing neutron number.

The Tz=−32 nucleus 21Mg has been studied by Coulomb excitation on 196Pt and 110Pd targets. A 205.6(1)-keV γ-ray transition resulting from the Coulomb excitation of the 52+ ground state to the first excited 12+ state in 21Mg was observed for the first time. Coulomb excitation cross-section measurements with both targets and a measurement of the half-life of the 12+ state yield an adopted value of B(E2;52+→12+)=13.3(4) W.u. A new excited state at 1672(1) keV with tentative 92+ assignment was also identified in 21Mg. This work demonstrates a large difference in the B(E2;52+→12+) value between T=32, A=21 mirror nuclei. The difference is investigated in the shell-model framework employing both isospin conserving and breaking USD interactions and using modern ab initio nuclear structure calculations, which have recently become applicable in the sd shell. (Less)

In the study of the odd-$Z$, even-$N$ nuclei $^{243}$Es and $^{249}$Md, performed at the University of Jyv\"askyl\"a, the fusion-evaporation reactions $^{197}$Au($^{48}$Ca,2$n$)$^{243}$Es and $^{203}$Tl($^{48}$Ca,2$n$)$^{249}$Md have been used for the first time. Fusion-evaporation residues were selected and detected using the RITU gas-filled separator coupled with the focal-plane spectrometer GREAT. For $^{243}$Es, the recoil decay correlation analysis yielded a half-life of $24 \pm 3$s, and a maximum production cross section of $37 \pm 10$ nb. In the same way, a half-life of $26 \pm 1$ s, an $\alpha$ branching ratio of 75 $\pm$ 5%, and a maximum production cross section of 300 $\pm$ 80 nb were determined for $^{249}$Md. The decay properties of $^{245}$Es, the daughter of $^{249}$Md, were also measured: an $\alpha$ branching ratio of 54 $\pm$ 7% and a half-life of 65 $\pm$ 6 s. Experimental cross sections were compared to the results of calculations performed using the KEWPIE2 statistical fusion-evaporation code.

International audience; Three new highly-deformed (HD) bands are identified in Nd136 and the highly deformed band of Nd137 is extended at higher spin by four transitions, revealing a band crossing associated with the occupation of the second νi13/2 intruder orbital. Extended cranked Nilsson-Strutinsky calculations are performed for all HD bands observed in Nd134, Nd136, and Nd137, achieving for the first time a consistent interpretation of all HD bands in the Nd nuclei. The new interpretation has significant consequences, like the change of parity of the yrast HD bands of Nd134 and Nd136, and the involvement of two negative-parity neutron intruder orbitals in the configurations of most HD bands. The present experimental results and their theoretical interpretation represent an important step forward in the understanding of the second-minimum excitations in the Nd nuclei.

The neutron-deficient mercury isotopes serve as a classical example of shape coexistence, whereby at low energy near-degenerate nuclear states characterized by different shapes appear. The electromagnetic structure of even-mass 182-188 Hg isotopes was studied using safe-energy Coulomb excitation of neutron-deficient mercury beams delivered by the REX-ISOLDE facility at CERN. The population of $ 0^{+}_{1,2}$01,2+, $ 2^{+}_{1,2}$21,2+and $ 4^{+}_{1}$41+states was observed in all nuclei under study. Reduced E2 matrix elements coupling populated yrast and non-yrast states were extracted, including their relative signs. These are a sensitive probe of shape coexistence and may be used to validate nuclear models. The experimental results are discussed in terms of mixing of two different configurations and are compared with three different model calculations: the Beyond Mean Field model, the Interacting Boson Model with configuration mixing and the General Bohr Hamiltonian. Partial agreement with experiment was observed, hinting to missing ingredients in the theoretical descriptions. The neutron-deficient mercury isotopes serve as a classical example of shape coexistence, whereby at low energy near-degenerate nuclear states characterized by different shapes appear. The electromagnetic structure of even-mass 182-188 Hg isotopes was studied using safe-energy Coulomb excitation of neutron-deficient mercury beams delivered by the REX-ISOLDE facility at CERN. The population of $ 0^{+}_{1,2}$01,2+, $ 2^{+}_{1,2}$21,2+and $ 4^{+}_{1}$41+states was observed in all nuclei under study. Reduced E2 matrix elements coupling populated yrast and non-yrast states were extracted, including their relative signs. These are a sensitive probe of shape coexistence and may be used to validate nuclear models. The experimental results are discussed in terms of mixing of two different configurations and are compared with three different model calculations: the Beyond Mean Field model, the Interacting Boson Model with configuration mixing and the General Bohr Hamiltonian. Partial agreement with experiment was observed, hinting to missing ingredients in the theoretical descriptions. ispartof: The European Physical Journal A - Hadrons and Nuclei vol:55 issue:8 pages:130-130 status: published

International audience; A sequence of nine almost equidistant quadrupole transitions is observed in Nd137. The sequence represents an extremely regular rotational band that extends to a spin of about 75/2 and an excitation energy of ≈4.5MeV above yrast. Cranked mean-field calculations of the Nilsson-Strutinsky type suggest an oblate shape for the band. They reproduce the observed I(I+1) dependence of the rotational energy whereas predicting a pronounced decrease in the deformation, which is the hallmark of antimagnetic rotation.

International audience; Multipolarity measurements are presented for transitions in the deformed odd-mass nucleus$^{167}$ Yb in support of tentative spin assignments and level interpretations based upon the cranked-Nilsson model. Internal-conversion coefficients were measured with the SAGE (Silicon And GErmanium) spectrometer confirming several E2 transition assignments. The array of high-purity germanium detectors enabled the recording of high-multiplicity events from which $\gamma\gamma\gamma$ and $\gamma\gamma e^{-}$ data sets were extracted and the technique of high-fold $\gamma$ -ray gating was demonstrated to cleanly isolate transitions of interest.

The first 2+ and 3- states of the doubly magic nucleus Sn132 are populated via safe Coulomb excitation employing the recently commissioned HIE-ISOLDE accelerator at CERN in conjunction with the highly efficient MINIBALL array. The Sn132 ions are accelerated to an energy of 5.49 MeV/nucleon and impinged on a Pb206 target. Deexciting γ rays from the low-lying excited states of the target and the projectile are recorded in coincidence with scattered particles. The reduced transition strengths are determined for the transitions 0g.s.+→21+, 0g.s.+→31-, and 21+→31- in Sn132. The results on these states provide crucial information on cross-shell configurations which are determined within large-scale shell-model and Monte Carlo shell-model calculations as well as from random-phase approximation and relativistic random-phase approximation. The locally enhanced B(E2;0g.s.+→21+) strength is consistent with the microscopic description of the structure of the respective states within all theoretical approaches. The presented results of experiment and theory can be considered to be the first direct verification of the sphericity and double magicity of Sn132. (Less)

A non-reference based method to determine internal conversion coefficients using the SAGE spectrometer is carried out for transitions in the nuclei of 154 Sm, 152 Sm and 166 Yb. The Normalised-Peak-to-Gamma method is in general an efficient tool to extract internal conversion coefficients. However, in many cases the required well-known reference transitions are not available. The data analysis steps required to determine absolute internal conversion coefficients with the SAGE spectrometer are presented. In addition, several background suppression methods are introduced and an example of how ancillary detectors can be used to select specific reaction products is given. The results obtained for ground-state band E2 transitions show that the absolute internal conversion coefficients can be extracted using the methods described with a reasonable accuracy. In some cases of less intense transitions only an upper limit for the internal conversion coefficient could be given.

The level structure of Nd136 has been investigated using the Mo100(Ar40,4n) reaction and the JUROGAM II+RITU+GREAT setup. The level scheme has been extended significantly. Many new bands have been identified both at low and high spin, among which are five nearly degenerate bands interpreted as chiral partners. Excitation energies, spins, and parities of the previously known bands are revised and firmly established, and some previously known bands have been revised. Configurations are assigned to the observed bands based on cranked Nilsson-Strutinsky calculations. The band structure of Nd136 is now clarified and the various types of single-particle and collective excitations are well understood.

Fine structure in the a decay of high-spin isomers in Lu-155( 25/2(-)) and Hf-156(8(+))has been studied for the first time using alpha gamma- coincidence analysis. Three new a decays from Lu-155(25 ...

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 ...

Lifetimes of the first excited 2(+) and 4(+) states in the extremely neutron -deficient nuclide Pt-172 have been measured for the first time using the recoil-distance Doppler shift and recoil-decay tagging techniques. An unusually low value of the ratio B(E2: 4(1)(+) -> 2(1)(+)/B(E2: 2(1)(+) -> 0(gs)(+)) = 0.55(19) was found, similar to a handful of other such anomalous cases observed in the entire Segre chart. The observation adds to a cluster of a few extremely neutron -deficient nuclides of the heavy transition metals with neutron numbers N approximate to 90-94 featuring the effect. No theoretical model calculations reported to date have been able to explain the anomalously low B(E2: 4(1)(+) -> 2(1)(+)/B(E2: 2(1)(+) -> 0(gs)(+)) ratios observed in these cases. Such low values cannot, e.g., be explained within the framework of the geometrical collective model or by algebraic approaches within the interacting boson model framework. It is proposed that the group of B(E2: 4(1)(+) -> 2(1)(+)/B(E2: 2(1)(+) -> 0(gs)(+)) ratios in the extremely neutron-deficient even-even W, Os, and Pt nuclei around neutron numbers N approximate to 90-94 reveal a quantum phase transition from a seniority-conserving structure to a collective regime as a function of neutron number. Although a system governed by seniority symmetry is the only theoretical framework for which such an effect may naturally occur, the phenomenon is highly unexpected for these nuclei that are not situated near closed shells.

The ground-state rotational band of the neutron-deficient californium (Z = 98) isotope 244Cf was identified for the first time and measured up to a tentative spin and parity of I I-pi = 20(+). The observation of the rotational band indicates that the nucleus is deformed. The kinematic and dynamic moments of inertia were deduced from the measured gamma-ray transition energies. The behavior of the dynamic moment of inertia revealed an up-bend due to a possible alignment of coupled nucleons in high-j orbitals starting at a rotational frequency of about (h) over bar (omega) = 0.20 MeV. The results were compared with the systematic behavior of the even-even N = 146 isotones as well as with available theoretical calculations that have been performed for nuclei in the region.

Using fusion-evaporation reactions, a gas-filled recoil separator, recoil-gating technique and recoil-isomer decay tagging technique we have extended the level scheme of At-203 (N = 118) significan ...

Projectile Coulomb excitation experiments were performed at HIE-ISOLDE at CERN with the radioactive ion beams of 140Nd and 142Sm. Ions with an energy of 4:62 MeV/A were impinging on a 1.45 mg/cm2 thick 208Pb target. The γ-rays depopulating the Coulomb-excited states were recorded by the HPGe-array MINIBALL and scattered particles were detected by a double-sided silicon strip detector. Experimental intensities were used for the determination of electromagnetic transition matrix elements. A preliminary result of the B(M1; 2+3 → 2+1) of 140Nd and an upper limit for the case of 142Sm are revealing the main fragments of the proton-neutron mixed-symmetry 2+1;ms states.

Evidence for chiral doublet bands has been observed for the first time in the even-even nucleus 136 Nd . One chiral band was firmly established. Four other candidates for chiral bands were also identified, which can contribute to the realization of the multiple pairs of chiral doublet bands ( M χ D ) phenomenon. The observed bands are investigated by the constrained and tilted axis cranking covariant density functional theory (TAC-CDFT). Possible configurations have been explored. The experimental energy spectra, angular momenta, and B ( M 1 ) / B ( E 2 ) values for the assigned configurations are globally reproduced by TAC-CDFT. Calculated results support the chiral interpretation of the observed bands, which correspond to shapes with maximum triaxiality induced by different multiquasiparticle configurations in 136 Nd . peerReviewed

The very neutron-deficient isobars Pb-179 and Tl-179 have been produced using the fusion-evaporation reactions Pd-104(Kr-78,xpyn), where x = 2. The gas-filled separator RITU was employed to transpo ...

Single-neutron states in the Z=30, N=49isotope 79Zn have been populated using the 78Zn(d,p)79Zn transfer reaction at REX-ISOLDE, CERN. The experimental setup allowed the combined detection of protons ejected in the reaction, and of γrays emitted by 79Zn. The analysis reveals that the lowest excited states populated in the reaction lie at approximately 1MeV of excitation, and involve neutron orbits above the N=50shell gap. From the analysis of γ-ray data and of proton angular distributions, characteristic of the amount of angular momentum transferred, a5/2+configuration was assigned to a state at 983keV. Comparison with large-scale-shell-model calculations supports a robust neutron N=50shell-closure for 78Ni. These data constitute an important step towards the understanding of the magicity of 78Ni and of the structure of nuclei in the region. publisher: Elsevier articletitle: Single-neutron orbits near 78Ni: Spectroscopy of the isotope 79Zn journaltitle: Physics Letters B articlelink: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.physletb.2014.12.006 content_type: article copyright: Copyright © 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. ispartof: Physics Letters B vol:740 pages:298-302 status: published

The evolution of collectivity with spin along the yrast line in the neutron-deficient nucleus $^{112}\mathrm{Te}$ has been studied by measuring the reduced transition probability of excited states in the yrast band. In particular, the lifetimes of the ${4}^{+}$ and ${6}^{+}$ excited states have been determined by using the recoil distance Doppler-shift method. The results are discussed using both large-scale shell-model and total Routhian surface calculations.

WOS: 000406755100001, Lifetimes of excited states in the yrast band of the neutron-deficient nuclide W-166 have been measured utilizing the DPUNS plunger device at the target position of the JUROGAM II gamma-ray spectrometer in conjunction with the RITU gas-filled separator and the GREAT focal-plane spectrometer. Excited states in W-166 were populated in the Mo-92(Kr-78, 4p) reaction at a bombarding energy of 380 MeV. The measurements reveal a low value for the ratio of reduced transitions probabilities for the lowest-lying transitions B(E2; 4(+)-> 2(+)) / B(E2; 2(+)-> 0(+)) = 0.33(5), compared with the expected ratio for an axially deformed rotor (B-4/2 = 1.43)., EURONS (European Commission)European Commission Joint Research Centre [RII3-CT-2004-506065]; Academy of Finland under the Finnish Centre of Excellence Programme (Nuclear and Accelerator Based Physics) [213503]; UK Science and Technology Facilities CouncilScience & Technology Facilities Council (STFC); Academy of FinlandAcademy of Finland [131665], This work has been supported through EURONS (European Commission Contract No. RII3-CT-2004-506065), the Academy of Finland under the Finnish Centre of Excellence Programme 2006-2011 (Nuclear and Accelerator Based Physics Contract No. 213503), and the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council. The UK/France (STFC/IN2P3) Loan Pool and GAMMAPOOL network are acknowledged for the EUROGAMdetectors of JUROGAMII. T.G. acknowledge the support of the Academy of Finland (Contract No. 131665).

Excited states in the proton-unbound nuclide $^{177}$Au were populated in the $^92}$Mo($^{88}$Sr, p2n) reaction and identified using the Jurogam-II and GREAT spectrometers in conjunction with the RITU gas-filled separator at the University of Jyvaskyla Accelerator Laboratory. A strongly coupled band and its decay path to the 11/2−α-decaying isomer have been identified using recoil-decay tagging. Comparisons with cranked Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov (HFB) calculations based on Skyrme energy functionals suggest that the band has a prolate deformation and is based upon coupling the odd 1h11/2 proton hole to the excited 02+ configuration in the $^{178}$Hg core. Although these configurations might be expected to follow the parabolic trend of core Hg(02+) states as a function of neutron number, the electromagnetic decay paths from the strongly coupled band in $^{177}$Au are markedly different from those observed in the heavier isotopes above the midshell. This indicates that a significant change in the structure of the underlying A+1Hg core occurs below the neutron midshell.

Lifetimes of the first excited 2(+) states in the extremely neutron- deficient W-162 and W-164 nuclei have been measured using the recoil distance Doppler shift technique. Experimental B(E2) data f ...