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9 pags., 8 figs., 4 tabs., The low-energy structure of Co65 was studied by means of γ-and fast-timing spectroscopy at the ISOLDE/CERN facility. The known level scheme of Co65 populated following the β-decay of Fe65 was expanded. The experimental results were compared with large-scale shell-model calculations. The measured long lifetime of the (1/21-) level confirms its nature as a highly collective state with proton excitations across the Z=28 gap and neutrons across the N=40 subshell., This work was partially supported by the Spanish MINECO through Projects No. FPA2014-57196 and No. FPA2015-65035-P and Centro de Excelencia Severo Ochoa Programme (Project No. SEV-2016-0597). Support by Grupo de Física Nuclear (GFN-UCM) and by the European Union Seventh Framework through ENSAR (Contract No. 262010) is also acknowledged. B.O. acknowledges funding by the CPAN project. S.R.L. acknowledges funding by the U.S. National Science Foundation under Contract No. PHY-07- 58100.

Rapid shape evolutions near A = 100 are now the focus of much attention in nuclear science. Much of the recent work has been centered on isotopes with Z

The ROmanian array for SPectroscopy in HEavy ion REactions (ROSPHERE) has been designed as a multi-detector setup dedicated to γ-ray spectroscopy studies at the Bucharest 9 MV Tandem accelerator. Consisting of up to 25 detectors (either Compton suppressed HPGe detectors or fast LaBr3(Ce) scintillator detectors) together with a state of the art plunger device, ROSPHERE is a powerful tool for lifetime measurements using the Recoil Distance Doppler Shift (RDDS) and the in-beam Fast Electronic Scintillation Timing (FEST) methods. The array's geometry, detectors, electronics and data acquisition system are described. Selected results from the first experimental campaigns are also presented.

This paper describes present capabilities of the new Target Preparation Laboratory constructed at Horia Hulubei National Institute for Physics and Nuclear Engineering, Bucharest-Magurele, Romania. Self-supporting or backed targets are produced in the laboratory, using thermal evaporation, electron-gun evaporation, sputtering or cold rolling techniques. At present, it is possible to prepare layers with a wide range of thicknesses from several tens of µg/cm2 to several hundreds of mg/cm2. As an example, we briefly describe a 40Ca target preparation.

The existence of two close-lying nuclear states in ⁷³Ga has recently been experimentally determined: a 1/2⁻ spin-parity for the ground state was measured in a laser spectroscopy experiment, while a J_π = 3/2⁻ level was observed in transfer reactions. This scenario is supported by Coulomb excitation studies, which set a limit for the energy splitting of 0.8 keV. In this work, we report on the study of the excited structure of ⁷³Ga populated in the β decay of ⁷³Zn produced at ISOLDE, CERN. Using β-gated, γ-ray singles, and γ –γ coincidences, we have searched for energy differences to try to delimit the ground-state energy splitting, providing a more stringent energy difference limit. Three new half-lives of excited states in ⁷³Ga have been measured using the fast-timing ;method with LaBr₃(Ce) detectors. From our study, we help clarify the excited structure of ⁷³G and we extend the existing ⁷³Zn decay to ⁷³Ga with 8 new energy levels and 35 γ transitions. We observe a 195-keV transition consistent with a γ ray de-exciting a short-lived state in the β-decay parent ⁷³Zn.

The lifetime of the 0(3)(+) state in Ni-66, two neutrons below the N = 40 subshell gap, has been measured. The transition B(E2; 0(3)(+) -> 2(1)(+)) is one of the most hindered E2 transitions in the Ni isotopic chain and it implies that, unlike Ni-68, there is a spherical structure at low excitation energy. We have performed extensive shell-model calculations that correctly predict this result, obtaining a spherical 0(+) state at the correct energy and with an extremely low B(E2; 0(3)(+)-> 2(1)(+)) value.

A search for shape isomers in the ^{66}Ni nucleus was performed, following old suggestions of various mean-field models and recent ones, based on state-of-the-art Monte Carlo shell model (MCSM), all considering ^{66}Ni as the lightest nuclear system with shape isomerism. By employing the two-neutron transfer reaction induced by an ^{18}O beam on a ^{64}Ni target, at the sub-Coulomb barrier energy of 39 MeV, all three lowest-excited 0^{+} states in ^{66}Ni were populated and their γ decay was observed by γ-coincidence technique. The 0^{+} states lifetimes were assessed with the plunger method, yielding for the 0_{2}^{+}, 0_{3}^{+}, and 0_{4}^{+} decay to the 2_{1}^{+} state the B(E2) values of 4.3, 0.1, and 0.2 Weisskopf units (W.u.), respectively. MCSM calculations correctly predict the existence of all three excited 0^{+} states, pointing to the oblate, spherical, and prolate nature of the consecutive excitations. In addition, they account for the hindrance of the E2 decay from the prolate 0_{4}^{+} to the spherical 2_{1}^{+} state, although overestimating its value. This result makes ^{66}Ni a unique nuclear system, apart from ^{236,238}U, in which a retarded γ transition from a 0^{+} deformed state to a spherical configuration is observed, resembling a shape-isomerlike behavior.

International audience

The $1{i}_{\frac{13}{2}}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}1{h}_{\frac{9}{2}}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}(M2)$ and $3{s}_{\frac{1}{2}}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}2{f}_{\frac{7}{2}}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}(E3)$ reduced proton transition probabilities in $_{83}^{209}\mathrm{Bi}$ have been determined from the direct half-life measurements of the ${\frac{13}{2}}_{1}^{+}$ and ${\frac{1}{2}}_{1}^{+}$ states using the Romanian array for $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray SPectroscopy in HEavy ion REactions (RoSPHERE). The ${\frac{13}{2}}_{1}^{+}$ and ${\frac{1}{2}}_{1}^{+}$ states were found to have ${T}_{\frac{1}{2}}=0.120(15)$ ns and ${T}_{\frac{1}{2}}=9.02(24)$ ns respectively. Angular distribution measurements were used to determine an $E3/M2$ mixing ratio of $\ensuremath{\delta}=\ensuremath{-}0.184(13)$ for the 1609 keV $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray transition deexciting the ${\frac{13}{2}}_{1}^{+}$ state. This value for $\ensuremath{\delta}$ was combined with the measured half-life to give reduced transition probabilities of $B(E3,{\frac{13}{2}}_{1}^{+}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\frac{9}{2}}_{1}^{\ensuremath{-}})=12(2)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{3}\phantom{\rule{4.pt}{0ex}}{e}^{2}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{fm}}^{6}$ and $B(M2,{\frac{13}{2}}_{1}^{+}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\frac{9}{2}}_{1}^{\ensuremath{-}})=38(5){\ensuremath{\mu}}_{N}^{2}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{fm}}^{2}$. These values are in good agreement with calculations within the finite Fermi system. The extracted value of $B(E3,{\frac{1}{2}}_{1}^{+}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\frac{7}{2}}_{1}^{\ensuremath{-}})=6.3(2)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{3}\phantom{\rule{4.pt}{0ex}}{e}^{2}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{fm}}^{6}$ can be explained by a small ($\ensuremath{\sim}6%$) admixture in the wave function of the ${\frac{1}{2}}_{1}^{+}$ state.

Recent work has been undertaken to renew the stabilization system for the beam energy at the Bucharest Tandem Accelerator. In the present paper the mechatronic design of the new system is presented and the running consistency of the new electronic circuits is shown. The experimental tests have shown that the new system has improved the quality of the accelerated beams in terms of stability and energy resolution, especially at lower accelerating voltages. As a result of the present development we show an improvement with 20% for the peak to peak medium value of the high voltage ripple on the terminal. This improvement also allowed to lower the minimum stable voltage on the terminal from 1.5 MV to 0.8 MV.

Several new subnanosecond lifetimes were measured in Pd-109 using the fast-timing beta gamma gamma (t) method. Fission fragments of the A = 109 mass chain were produced by bombarding natural uranium with 30 MeV protons at the Jyvaskyla Ion Guide Isotope Separator On-Line (IGISOL) facility. Lifetimes were obtained for excited states in Pd-109 populated following beta decay of Rh-109. The new lifetimes provide some insight into the evolution of nuclear structure in this mass region. In particular, the distinct structure of the two low-lying 7/2(+) states occurring systematically across the Pd isotopic chain is supported by the new lifetime measurements. The available nuclear data indicate a sudden increase in deformation at N = 60 which is related to the strong p-n interaction between pi g(9/2) and vg(7/2) valence nucleons expected in this region.

Low-energy isomeric states of 86Y were populated in the reaction 73Ge + 16O at 57MeV and were investigated by means of delayed n $ \gamma$ and $ \gamma$ $ \gamma$ coincidences. A half-life of 70(7)ns was measured for the 5- state at 208keV, yielding an exceptionally small B(M1) value of 2.0(7)×10-5 W.u. and a B(E2) value of 0.34(+24 -13) W.u. For the other three known isomeric states at 218, 243, and 302keV, the half-lives extracted from the present experimental data are in very good agreement with previous measurements. Given the newly observed isomeric character of the 5- 208keV state, the re-analysis of earlier experimental data on the 302keV isomer led to a new spin-parity assignment, 6+, for this state. In addition, this re-evaluation provided two g -factors, -0.083(3) and +0.63(2) , for the 208 and 302keV states, respectively. The results are discussed in terms of spherical-shell model calculations performed with a truncated space of configurations built on the f 5/2 , p 3/2 , p 1/2 , and g 9/2 valence orbitals. Effective spin, orbital, and “tensor” g -factors were determined empirically for protons and neutrons in the considered configuration space.

It is shown for the first time that the ASCSTS technique we have introduced several years ago for lifetime measurements can be also used for measuring low level activities. A good example with practical relevance in this respect is 90Sr isotope. In order to apply this technique the radioactive isotope must have an isomeric state with a lifetime spanning the ns–μs range. This method is adequate for measuring weak activities with high detection efficiency in a geometry close to 4π. It is experimentally demonstrated that ASCSTS method is a reliable, high efficiency technique for measuring absolute radioactivity in the long radioactive chains.

Low energy heavy charged particle accelerators are generators of ionizing radiation, due to the ion beam interactions into the machine components, targets and surrounding materials. Nowadays there are available computational tools allowing realistic estimates of radiation doses and residual activity of the activated components. These evaluations are further used to design the radiological safety system required by licensing and operation of the equipment.This paper presents results of measurements and numerical simulations of the radiation doses and residual activity, at the recently commissioned Bucharest 3 MV Cockcroft-Walton type Tandetron accelerator presently used mainly for Ion Beam Analysis (IBA) research.

The low-lying positive- and negative-parity states in $^{168}\mathrm{Yb}$ have been investigated by means of the $(\ensuremath{\alpha},2\mathrm{n}\ensuremath{\gamma})$ fusion evaporation reaction. Using the coincidence method, the level scheme was corrected and extended up to 3 MeV, for both the positive- and negative-parity states. Using the new branching ratios determined in the present experiment, the $K$ quantum number was proposed for two negative-parity bands by direct comparison with the Alaga rule. Like in some other nuclei, one negative-parity band was established, decaying predominantly to the $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-vibrational band. In a second experiment, the lifetimes of the low-lying excited states up to ${J}^{\ensuremath{\pi}}={6}^{+}$ in the ground-state band were measured by using the in-beam fast-timing method with the Bucharest mixed high-purity germanium (HPGe) and ${\mathrm{LaBr}}_{3}$:Ce detector array using the triple-$\ensuremath{\gamma}$ coincidence method. Reduced $E2$ transition probabilities were extracted from the measured lifetimes and compared with the corresponding observables in neighboring isotopes, showing a smooth behavior with increasing mass. The positive- and negative-parity states as well as $E1$ and $E2$ transition probability ratios revealed by these experiments are compared with the interacting boson model in the $sd$ and $spdf$ boson space, and with the confined beta-soft rotor model, and are found to be in good agreement.

Low- and medium-spin states of the odd-odd nucleus $^{130}\mathrm{La}$ were studied by in-beam and pulsed-beam $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray spectroscopy using the $^{121}\mathrm{Sb}(^{12}\mathrm{C},3n)$ and $^{116}\mathrm{Sn}(^{16}\mathrm{O},pn)$ fusion-evaporation reactions. The decay out of the $\ensuremath{\pi}{h}_{11/2}\ensuremath{\bigotimes}\ensuremath{\nu}{h}_{11/2}$ and $\ensuremath{\pi}{h}_{11/2}\ensuremath{\bigotimes}\ensuremath{\nu}{g}_{7/2}$ rotational structures to the ground state has been elucidated. Spin and parity values have been assigned to most of the newly observed states, as well as to the bandheads of the rotational bands. Two isomeric states were identified and placed in the level scheme, with the characteristics ${J}^{\ensuremath{\pi}}={5}^{+},{E}_{x}=214.0$ keV, ${T}_{1/2}=0.76(9)$ $\ensuremath{\mu}$s and ${J}^{\ensuremath{\pi}}={6}^{+},{E}_{x}=319.1$ keV, ${T}_{1/2}=33(1)$ ns. The magnetic and quadrupole interactions of the ${6}^{+}$ isomeric state have been investigated by the time-differential perturbed $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray angular distribution method. The $g$ factor value, $g({6}^{+})=+0.48(3)$, and the quadrupole coupling constant in polycrystalline metallic Sn lattice, ${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{Q}({6}^{+})=37(4)$ MHz, have been derived. The experimental data are compared with the predictions of two-quasiparticles plus rotor model calculations.

International audience; The neutron-rich nucleus 81Ga was populated from the β-decay of 81Zn produced at the ISOLDE (CERN) facility. The analysis of β-gated γ-ray singles and γ-γ coincidences permits to extend significantly the level scheme of 81Ga as well as to provide a new half-life for 81Zn. A preliminary upper limit was obtained for the half-life of the first excited state in 81Ga.

Excited states in ${}^{129}$I were populated with the ${}^{124}$Sn(${}^{7}$Li,$2n$) reaction at 23 MeV. In-beam measurements of $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray coincidences were performed with an array of eight HPGe detectors and five LaBr${}_{3}$(Ce) scintillation detectors. Based on the $\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{\gamma}$ coincidence data, a positive parity band structure built on the $7/{2}^{+}$ ground state was established and the $\ensuremath{\pi}{g}_{7/2}$ configuration at oblate deformation was assigned to it. The results are compared to interacting Boson-Fermion model (IBFM) and total Routhian surface (TRS) calculations.

An extensive process of modernizing the research infrastructure started 6 years ago at the tandem accelerator in IFIN-HH. Major improvements of the 9 MV FN tandem accelerator installed in IFIN-HH in ′73 were done in the late years, making it a very reliable machine, suited for basic and applied research experiments. The developments opened the way for new experiments made for the first time in our laboratory. Two new Cockroft-Walton tandem accelerators were also installed in 2012. The 1 MV HVE Tandetron accelerator is dedicated to AMS measurements, especially for 14C dating, while the 3 MV HVE Tandetron accelerator has the reaction chambers and detection system prepared for ion beam analysis measurements, microprobe experiments and ion implantation.

The knowledge of excited states in the odd-odd ${}^{150}$Pm, completely unknown until recently, is important both for understanding double $\ensuremath{\beta}$ decay of ${}^{150}$Nd and for nuclear structure studies in mass regions with a quantum phase transition. A large number of excited states have been determined for the first time in this nucleus by measuring spectra of the ${}^{152}$Sm($d$,$\ensuremath{\alpha}$) direct reaction at 25 MeV with the Munich Q3D spectrograph and by $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray spectroscopy with the ($p,n\ensuremath{\gamma}$) reaction at 7.1 MeV at the Bucharest tandem accelerator. Some of these levels correspond to peaks recently observed with the ${(}^{3}$He,$t$) reaction at 140 MeV/u.

The low-spin excitations of the nucleus 146Sm which is just two neutrons and two protons away from the N = 82 shell and Z = 64 subshell closures have been investigated by means of the 143Nd (α, n) and 144Nd (α, 2n) fusion-evaporation reactions. We established 47 hitherto unknown energy levels up to 4.7MeV and 75 new transitions. In addition, 7 spin assignments were possible from the γ-γ angular correlation analysis. The structure of the possible candidates for a 2+ ⊗ 3− quadrupole-octupole multiplet are first discussed in terms of the harmonic vibrational model. A comparison of these states with the corresponding ones in the neighboring N = 84 isotones is also presented. Finally, the structure of the 146Sm nucleus is interpreted in terms of the IBA-spdf model. It is shown that the model is able to reproduce the experimental relative transition strengths of the 2+ ⊗ 3− quadrupole-octupole multiplet and also a series of collective properties such as the proposed double-octupole excitations.

8th Topical Meeting on Industrial Radiation and Radioisotope Measurement Applications (IRRMA) -- JUN 24-JUL 01, 2011 -- Kansas City, MO WOS: 000306937800064 PubMed ID: 22154387 We report on a gamma-ray coincidence analysis using a mixed array of hyperpure germanium and cerium-doped lanthanum tri-bromide (LaBr3:Ce) scintillation detectors to study nuclear electromagnetic transition rates in the pico-to-nanosecond time regime in P-33,P-34 and S-33 following fusion-evaporation reactions between an O-18 beam and an isotopically enriched O-18 implanted tantalum target. Energies from decay gamma-rays associated with the reaction residues were measured in event-by-event coincidence mode, with the measured time difference information between the pairs of gamma-rays in each event also recorded using the ultra-fast coincidence timing technique. The experiment used the good full-energy peak resolution of the LaBr3:Ce detectors coupled with their excellent timing responses in order to determine the excited state lifetime associated with the lowest lying, cross-shell, I-pi = 4(-) "intruder" state previously reported in the N=19 isotone P-34. The extracted lifetime is consistent with a mainly single-particle M2 multipolarity associated with a f(7/2) -> d(5/2) single particle transition. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Kansas State Univ (KSU), Coll Engn, KSU, Dept Mech & Nucl Engn, KSU, Radiat Measurement Applicat Lab, N Carolina Sate Univ, Ctr Engn Applicat Radiosotopes, Int Radiat Phys Soc (IRPS) Science and Technology Facilities Council [ST/J000051/1, ST/F006950/1, ST/G000751/1 NuSTAR, ST/G000751/1]

7Li induced-reactions have been used with a 186W target to populate nuclei around A∼180-190 at the National Institute of Physics and Nuclear Engineering in Bucharest, Romania. An array of high-purity germanium (HPGe) and cerium-doped lanthanum bromide (LaBr3:Ce) detectors have been used to measure sub-nanosecond half-lives with fast-timing techniques. The yrast 2+ state in 190Os was measured to be t1/2 = 375(20)ps, in excellent agreement with the literature value. The previously unreported half-life of the 564-keV state in 189Ir has also been measured and a value of t1/2 = 540(100)ps ps obtained.

Fast-timing measurements were performed in the region of the medium-mass $^{103,105,107}\mathrm{Cd}$ isotopes, produced in fusion evaporation reactions. Results on new and reevaluated half-lives are analyzed within a systematic study of transition rates. The $7/{2}_{1}^{+}$ states in $^{103,105,107}\mathrm{Cd}$ are interpreted as arising from a single-particle excitation. The $9/{2}^{+}$ states configuration assignment is based on the observed decay branches.

$\ensuremath{\gamma}$ rays were measured at several angles in both singles and coincidence modes in the $^{115}\mathrm{Sn}$$(\ensuremath{\alpha},n\ensuremath{\gamma}){}^{118}$Te reaction at 15 MeV on a thick target. Multipolarities and mixing ratios were determined from the $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray angular distribution analysis. Lifetimes of 11 low- and medium-spin excited states in $^{118}\mathrm{Te}$ were determined from a Monte Carlo Doppler-shift attenuation method analysis of the Doppler broadened line shapes of $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ rays deexciting the levels. The results are discussed in comparison with the predictions of the interacting boson model.

Endoscopic evaluation is one of the most important explorations in the diagnosis of gastric cancer, increasing its value by adding biopsy sampling and histopathologic examination, especially in early forms of gastric malignant proliferations. The aim of this study was to evaluate some descriptive parameters of macroscopic and microscopic aspects of gastric carcinomas defined with the help of endoscopic investigation and gastric biopsies sampled during endoscopic examination, and their correlation with patient survival.The study was performed on a group of 119 patients diagnosed with gastric carcinoma. The study material was represented by: tissue fragments obtained by endoscopic biopsy, clinical observation charts, histopathologic diagnosis records, ledgers for records of endoscopic investigation, and endoscopic images recorded for each patient. Biopsies were taken preferentially from areas with the highest risk of malignancy. Tumor fragments were subjected to conventional histological processing techniques (fixation and inclusion in paraffin) and then were stained with HIM. The study included two chapters: the imagistic study and the pathologic study. The parameters assessed were: the site of the lesion within the stomach, the endoscope macroscopic appearance, the microscopic appearance of the endoscope biopsy sample, and the survival, followed up until 48 months.The most frequently observed macroscopic aspect was the fungating one, in more than two thirds of all cases, followed by the infiltrating one, but all with a poor survival - about 25-30% at 24 months. The most frequent location was the antro-pyloric region, with the highest survival rate of 25% at 24 months, followed by the gastric corpus and the lesser curvature. Most of the tumors were restricted to a single segment of the stomach. The most frequent microscopic aspect was the tubular one (75% of all cases) with its poorly differentiated variant (39 of the 91 cases). The 24 months survival was under 50% for all morphological types of carcinoma, with the lowest ones in the tubular and mucinous types (around 25%). The secretory pattern was identified on biopsy samples stained with HE in only 15% of the cases, and did not influence the survival of the patients.The combined histologic and endoscopic morphologic investigation allowed the shaping of an accurate morphologic and prognostic preoperative profile in gastric carcinomas.

Imagistic examinations have an essential role in the assessment of gastric cancer both in earlier and advanced stages. Among these, endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) especially contributes to the diagnosis by direct visualization of the tumor and to the staging and prognosis assessment through the evaluation of the gastric wall and regional lymph nodes. Computer tomography (CT) examination also has an important role, especially in advanced stages, in the assessment of the prognosis, contributing to TNM staging. The aim of this study is a comparative assessment of tumor invasion degree by these two imagistic methods and the correlation of the imagistic diagnosis with histopathologic assessment results on surgical specimens.The basis of the study was represented by a group of 38 patients with gastric carcinoma investigated both by endoscopic ultrasound and computer tomography from which 15 cases with surgical excision of the tumor followed by microscopic examination were selected. Studied material was represented by: patients' medical charts, registers for ultrasound endoscopy and CT investigation, endoscopic and CT images, surgical excision samples and pathology reports. Tumor fragments were processed by classical histological techniques (fixation and paraffin wax embedding) and staining (HE).Comparing the CT examination with ultrasound endoscopy results showed that CT examination overestimated the invasion grade of the gastric wall (T) but accurately defined the grade of lymph node invasion (N) and metastases (M). Comparing the results of ultrasound endoscopic examination with those from histopathological examination showed that the first method underestimated the grade of invasion of the gastric wall (T) while the latter correctly defined the grade of lymph node invasion (N) and metastases (M). Comparing CT examination results with histopathological ones showed that CT overestimated both the grade of invasion of the gastric wall (T), lymph node invasion (N) and metastases (M).In the preoperative assessment of the invasion stage of gastric carcinoma (TNM), ultrasound endoscopy is the elective imagistic investigation for predicting the grade of invasion of the gastric wall while CT examination is a more accurate assessment of lymph node extension and metastases, the precise definition of invasion stage being only the result of histopathological examination on surgical specimens.

A fast-timing method to determine lifetimes of nuclear states in the sub-nanosecond domain is presented. It is based on in-beam measurements of triple-gamma coincidences in heavy-ion fusion-evaporation reactions, performed with an array of HPGe and LaBr(3):Ce detectors. The high-energy resolution HPGe detectors are used to define de-exciting cascades, while the fast LaBr(3):Ce detectors are used to determine the decay time spectra of selected levels fed by these cascades. A special method to treat the time information of an array of fast detectors is employed in order to fully use the efficiency of the array. Two measurements are presented to illustrate the method: a re-determination of the known half-life T(1/2) = 0.7 ns of 7/2(+) level in (107)Cd (test experiment), and the determination of a half-life T(1/2) = 0.7 ns of the E(x) = 205 keV, J(pi) = 7/2(+) level in (107)Cd (test experiment), and the determination of a half-life T(1/2) = 47 ps for the E(x) = 367 keV, J(pi) = 3/2(+) state of (199)Tl..

The energy of the first excited 2{sup +} state in {sup 96}Kr was measured as 241 keV. The nucleus was produced in the fission of {sup 238}U induced by a 954-MeV {sup 136}Xe beam and prompt {gamma} rays were observed using the clover array CLARA in coincidence with fission products identified with the PRISMA spectrometer. The evolution of the quadrupole collectivity in the Kr isotopes with N{>=}50 is discussed by comparison with that from the Rb to Mo isotones and with predictions of various theoretical calculations.

The Advanced Time-Delayed {beta}{gamma}{gamma}(t) method was used to measure lifetimes of selected high-spin states in {sup 122}Cd populated from {beta}{sup -} decay of the J{sup {pi}}=(9{sup -}) isomer in {sup 122}Ag. From the {gamma}{gamma} coincidences, a new energy level was established at 2616.6 keV with a suggested spin-parity assignment of 8{sup -}. Lifetimes were determined for the high-spin states at 2616.6 and 2502.7 keV as T{sub 1/2}=1.35(29) ns and 0.24(6) ns, respectively. The transition rates for {gamma} rays de-exciting the 7{sup -} states in the N=74 isotones of {sup 122}Cd, {sup 124}Sn, and {sup 126}Te were found to be very similar.