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The electromagnetic character of the ΔI=1 transitions connecting the 1- to 0-phonon and the 2- to 1-phonon wobbling bands should be dominated by an E2 component, due to the collective motion of the entire nuclear charge. In the present work it is shown, based on combined angular correlation and linear polarization measurements, that the mixing ratios of all analyzed connecting transitions between low-lying bands in $^{135}$Pr interpreted as 0-, 1-, and 2-phonon wobbling bands, have absolute values smaller than one. This indicates predominant M1 magnetic character, which is incompatible with the proposed wobbling nature. All experimental observables are instead in good agreement with quasiparticle-plus-triaxial-rotor model calculations, which describe the bands as resulting from a rapid re-alignment of the total angular momentum from the short to the intermediate nuclear axis.

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 $^{119}$Cs, 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 $^{119}$Cs.

International audience; 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.

International audience; The very neutron-deficient strongly deformed Cs119 nucleus has been studied using the Ni58(Zn64,3p) 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.

International audience; Excited states in Ba131 and Ce133 were studied using in-beam γ-ray spectroscopy through the Sn122(C13,4n)Ba131 and Te125(C12,4n)Ce133 reactions, respectively. A strongly coupled band, associated with the νg7/2[404]7/2+ configuration, was identified in Ba131 and Ce133. It is the first time to observe the νg7/2[404]7/2+ bands in the N=75 isotones. The signature partners exhibit considerable energy splitting in comparison with those in the πg7/2[404]7/2+ bands in the odd-A Ta and Re isotopes. Extensive cranked shell model and quasiparticle-plus-triaxial-rotor model calculations reveal the origin of the signature splitting, which depends not only on the triaxiality, but also on the configuration mixing with nearby low-j orbitals.

International audience; 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 Cs118. 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 Cs118, which exhibits one of the most complete sets of two-quasiparticle configurations in nuclei close to the proton drip line.

International audience; The high-spin states in Ba130 have been investigated using the Sn122(C13,5n) reaction and the GALILEO array coupled to the EUCLIDES and Neutron Wall ancillary detectors. The level scheme has been extended to an excitation energy of ≈12 MeV and spin 28. Two sets of pseudospin partner bands have been identified built on πh11/2(g7/2,d5/2) and νh11/2(s1/2,d3/2) configurations. The assignments are supported by calculations using the projected shell model and the particle rotor model.

International audience; Five new 2+ levels have been established in the semimagic Po210 nucleus from a Pb208(C12,Be10) two-proton transfer experiment, performed at energies close to the Coulomb barrier at JAEA Tokai. A setup combining Ge, LaBr3, and Si telescopes was used to detect both in-beam γ rays and ejectile residues. The new 2+ states have been established by means of the transitions toward the 0+ ground state which are present in the γ spectra produced by properly selecting the excitation energy in Po210 after kinematical reconstruction. (f7/2)2, h9/2⊗f5/2, (i13/2)2, f7/2⊗p3/2, and f7/2⊗f5/2 two-proton configurations are assigned to these states. In addition, a new 3− level has also been established in this nucleus, very likely originating from the f7/2⊗i13/2 configuration. Shell-model calculations strongly support these assignments.

International audience; Experimental signatures of moderately enhanced octupole correlations at high spin in Nd136 are indicated for the first time. The extracted dipole moments of two negative-parity bands are only two times smaller than those of the lanthanide nuclei with N≈90 which present well-established octupole correlations. Calculations using the cranked quasiparticle random phase approximation and a model of quadrupole-octupole rotations with octupole vibrations reveal the structure of the bands and the enhanced octupole correlations at high spin in Nd136.

A particle rotor model, which couples nucleons in four single-j shells to a triaxial rotor core, is developed to investigate the five pairs of nearly degenerate doublet bands recently reported in the even-even nucleus ¹³⁶Nd. The experimental energy spectra and available B(M1)∣B(E2) values are successfully reproduced. The angular momentum geometries of the valence nucleons and the core support the chiral rotation interpretations not only for the previously reported chiral doublet, but also for the other four candidates. Hence, ¹³⁶Nd is the first even-even candidate nucleus in which the multiple chiral doublets exist. Five pairs of chiral doublet bands in a single nucleus is also a new record in the study of nuclear chirality.

Several new bands have been identified in $^{130}$Ba, among which there is one with band-head spin 8+. Its properties are in agreement with the Fermi-aligned νh11/22, 7/2−[523]⊗9/2−[514] Nilsson configuration. This is the first observation of a two-quasiparticle t-band in the A=130 mass region. The t-band is fed by a dipole band involving two additional h11/2 protons. The odd-spin partners of the proton and neutron S-bands and the ground-state band at high spins are also newly identified. The observed bands are discussed using several theoretical models, total Routhians surfaces (TRS), tilted axis cranking (TAC), particle rotor model (PRM) and projected shell model (PSM), which strongly suggest the coexistence of prolate and oblate shapes polarized by rotation aligned two-proton and two-neutron configurations, as well as prolate collective rotations around axes with different orientations. With the new results, $^{130}$Ba presents one of the best and most complete sets of collective excitations that a γ-soft nucleus can manifest at medium and high spins, revealing a diversity of shapes and rotations for the nuclei in the A=130 mass region.

International audience; Background: The γ softness of Nd136 makes it possible to study the shape changes induced by two-proton or two-neutron excitation. Purpose: We measure the lifetimes of two-quasiparticle states of the bands based on the 10+ states at 3296 and 3279 keV to investigate the shape change induced by the alignment of two protons or two neutrons in the h11/2 orbital. Methods: The recoil-distance Doppler shift method was used for the study of Nd136 studies, which was formed by the fusion reaction Sn120(Ne20,4n)Nd136, at Ebeam=85 MeV. Calculations were performed within the microscopic-macroscopic approach, based on the deformed Woods-Saxon single-particle potential and the Yukawa-plus-exponential macroscopic energy. Results: The lifetime of the 10+ state at 3279 keV of Nd136 was measured to be T1/210+=1.63(9) ns. The lifetimes of the 2+ state at 374 keV and of the 12+ state at 3686 keV of the ground band were also measured to be T1/22+=26.5(14) ps and T1/212+=22.5(14) ps. Conclusions: The measured lifetime of 10+ the state at 3279 keV together with other observables confirm the structure change in Nd136. A rather small reduced hindrance of the electromagnetic decay of the 10+ state at 3279 keV would be consistent with its K-mixed character.

International audience; The half-life of the 42+ state of the 2p-2h proton intruder band of Sn116 has been measured with the fast-timing technique. The lifetime of T1/2=29(10) ps leads to a transition probability BE2;42+→22+=40(13) Weisskopf units, which is in very good agreement with the large BE2;22+→03+ value measured previously and provides strong support for the 03+ state as the bandhead of the intruder configuration and for the shape coexistence in the semimagic Sn116 nucleus. IBM-2 calculations with mixing reproduce the experimental data very well, giving insight into the degree of mixing between the different states.

A particle rotor model, which couples nucleons in four single-j shells to a triaxial rotor core, is developed to investigate the five pairs of nearly degenerate doublet bands recently reported in the even-even nucleus $^{136}$Nd. The experimental energy spectra and available B(M1)/B(E2) values are successfully reproduced. The angular momentum geometries of the valence nucleons and the core support the chiral rotation interpretations not only for the previously reported chiral doublet, but also for the other four candidates. Hence, $^{136}$Nd is the first even-even candidate nucleus in which the multiple chiral doublets exist. Five pairs of chiral doublet bands in a single nucleus is also a new record in the study of nuclear chirality.

International audience; 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.