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This paper presents precision measurements of electromagnetic decay probabilities associated with electric dipole transitions in the prolate-deformed nucleus 183Re. The nucleus of interest was formed using the fusion evaporation reaction 180Hf(7Li,4n)183Re at a beam energy of 30 MeV at the tandem accelerator at the HH-IFIN Institute, Bucharest Romania. Coincident decay gamma rays from near-yrast cascades were detected using the combined HPGe-LaBr3 detector array ROSPHERE. The time differences between cascade gamma rays were measured using the LaBr3 detectors to determine the half-lives of the two lowest lying spin-parity 9/2- states at excitation energies of 496 and 617 keV to be 5.65(5) and 2.08(3) ns respectively. The deduced E1 transition rates from these two states are discussed in terms of the K-hindrance between the low-lying structures in this prolate-deformed nucleus.

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 ...

The beta decays of 86Br and 91Rb have been studied using the total absorption spectroscopy technique. The radioactive nuclei were produced at the IGISOL facility in Jyvaskyla and further purified using the JYFLTRAP. 86Br and 91Rb are considered high priority contributors to the decay heat in reactors. In addition 91Rb was used as a normalization point in direct measurements of mean gamma energies released in the beta decay of fission products by Rudstam et al. assuming that this decay was well known from high-resolution measurements. Our results shows that both decays were suffering from the Pandemonium effect and that the results of Rudstam et al. should be renormalized.

International audience; Total absorption gamma-ray spectroscopy is used to measure accurately the intensity of γ emission from neutron-unbound states populated in the β-decay of delayed-neutron emitters. From the comparison of this intensity with the intensity of neutron emission a constraint on the (n, γ) cross section for highly unstable neutron-rich nuclei can be deduced. A surprisingly large γ branching was observed for a number of isotopes which might indicate the need to increase by a large factor the Hauser-Feshbach (n, γ) cross-section estimates that impact on r process abundance calculations.

We investigate the decay of 87,88Br and 94Rb using total absorption γ -ray spectroscopy. These important fission products are β-delayed neutron emitters. Our data show considerable βγ intensity, so far unobserved in high-resolution γ -ray spectroscopy, from states at high excitation energy. We also find significant differences with the β intensity that can be deduced from existing measurements of the β spectrum. We evaluate the impact of the present data on reactor decay heat using summation calculations. Although the effect is relatively small it helps to reduce the discrepancy between calculations and integral measurements of the photon component for 235U fission at cooling times in the range 1–100 s. We also use summation calculations to evaluate the impact of present data on reactor antineutrino spectra. We find a significant effect at antineutrino energies in the range of 5 to 9 MeV. In addition, we observe an unexpected strong probability for γ emission from neutron unbound states populated in the daughter nucleus. The γ branching is compared to Hauser-Feshbach calculations, which allow one to explain the large value for bromine isotopes as due to nuclear structure. However the branching for 94Rb, although much smaller, hints of the need to increase the radiative width γ by one order of magnitude. This increase in γ would lead to a similar increase in the calculated (n,γ ) cross section for this very neutron-rich nucleus with a potential impact on r process abundance calculations.

J. L. Taín et al. -- 6 pags., 7 figs., 1 tab. -- Open Access funded by Creative Commons Atribution Licence 4.0, Total absorption gamma-ray spectroscopy is used to measure accurately the intensity of ¿ emission from neutron-unbound states populated in the ß-decay of delayed-neutron emitters. From the comparison of this intensity with the intensity of neutron emission one can deduce information on the (n,¿) cross section for unstable neutron-rich nuclei of interest in r process abundance calculations. A surprisingly large ¿ branching was observed for a number of isotopes. The results are compared with Hauser-Feshbach calculations and discussed., This work was supported by Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad under grants FPA2008-06419, FPA2010- 17142, FPA2011-24553, FPA2014-52823-C2-1-P, CPAN CSD- 2007-00042 (Ingenio2010) and the program Severo Ochoa (SEV-2014-0398). WG would like to thank the University of Valencia for support. This work was supported by the Academy of Finland under the Finnish Centre of Excellence Programme 2012-2017 (Project No. 21350). Work supported by EPSRC(UK) and STFC(UK) and the UK National Measurement Office. Work supported by the European Commission under the FP7/EURATOM contract 605203. FGK acknowledges support from the U.S. Department of Energy, under contract number DEAC02- 06CH11357.

Preliminary results from beta decay studies of nuclei that are important for reactor applications are presented. The beta decays have been studied using the total absorption technique (TAS) and the pure beams provided by the JYFLTRAP system at the IGISOL facility of the University of Jyväskylä. peerReviewed

An overview is given of our activities related to the study of the beta decay of neutron rich nuclei relevant for nuclear applications. Recent results of the study of the beta decay of 87,88 Br using a new segmented total absorption spectrometer are presented. The measurements were performed at the IGISOL facility using trap-assisted total absorption spectroscopy.

A new accurate determination of beta-delayed neutron emission probabilities from nuclei in the low mass region of the light fission group has been performed. The measurements were carried out using the BELEN 4π neutron counter at the IGISOL-JYFL mass separator in combination with a Penning trap. The new results significantly improve the uncertainties of neutron emission probabilities for {sup 91}Br, {sup 86}As, {sup 85}As, and {sup 85}Ge nuclei.

The CRIS setup at CERN-ISOLDE is a laser spectroscopy experiment dedicated to the high-resolution study of the spin, hyperfine structure and isotope shift of radioactive nuclei with low production rates (a few per second). It combines the Doppler-free resolution of the in-flight collinear geometry with the high detection efficiency of resonant ionisation. A recent commissioning campaign has demonstrated a 1% experimental efficiency, and as low as a 0.001% non-resonant ionisation. The current status of the experiment and its recent achievements with beams of francium isotopes are reported. The first identified systematic effects are discussed. publisher: Elsevier articletitle: The Collinear Resonance Ionization Spectroscopy (CRIS) experimental setup at CERN-ISOLDE journaltitle: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms articlelink: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nimb.2013.05.088 content_type: article copyright: Copyright © 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. ispartof: Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research B vol:317 issue:PART B pages:565-569 ispartof: location:Matsue, Japan status: published

The level scheme of the neutron-deficient nuclide 168Os has been extended and mean lifetimes of excited states have been measured by the recoil distance Doppler-shift method using the JUROGAM \gamma-ray spectrometer in conjunction with the IKP K\"oln plunger device. The 168Os \gamma rays were measured in delayed coincidence with recoiling fusion-evaporation residues detected at the focal plane of the RITU gas-filled separator. The ratio of reduced transition probabilities B(E2;4_1^+ \rightarrow 2_1^+)/B(E2;2_1^+ \rightarrow 0_1^+) is measured to be 0.34(18), which is very unusual for collective band structures and cannot be reproduced by IBM-2 model calculations based on the SkM* energy-density functional.

International audience; The accurate determination of reactor antineutrino spectra remains a very active research topic for which new methods of study have emerged in recent years. Indeed, following the long-recognized reactor anomaly (measured antineutrino deficit in short baseline reactor experiments when compared with spectral predictions), the three international reactor neutrino experiments Double Chooz, Daya Bay and Reno have recently demonstrated the existence of spectral distortions in their measurements with respect to the same predictions. These spectral predictions were obtained through the conversion of integral beta-energy spectra obtained at the ILL research reactor. Several studies have shown that the underlying nuclear physics required for the conversion of these spectra into antineutrino spectra is not totally understood. An alternative to such converted spectra is a complementary approach that consists of determining the antineutrino spectrum by means of the measurement and processing of nuclear data. The beta properties of some key fission products suffer from the pandemonium effect which can be circumvented by the use of the Total Absorption Gamma-ray Spectroscopy technique (TAGS). The two main contributors to the Pressurized Water Reactor antineutrino spectrum in the region where the spectral distortion has been observed are 92Rb and 142Cs, which have been measured at the radioactive beam facility of the University of Jyväskylä in two TAGS experiments. We present the results of the analysis of the TAGS measurements of the β-decay properties of 92Rb along with preliminary results on 142Cs and report on the measurements already performed.

A new detection system for the measurement of beta-delayed neutron emission probabilities has been characterized using fission products with well known β-delayed neutron emission properties. The setup consists of BELEN-20, a 4π neutron counter with twenty 3He proportional tubes arranged inside a large polyethylene neutron moderator, a thin Si detector for β counting and a self-triggering digital data acquisition system. The use of delayed-neutron precursors with different neutron emission windows allowed the study of the effect of energy dependency on neutron, β and β–neutron rates. The observed effect is well reproduced by Monte Carlo simulations. The impact of this dependency on the accuracy of neutron emission probabilities is discussed. A new accurate value of the neutron emission probability for the important delayed-neutron precursor 137I was obtained, P n = 7.76 ( 14 ) %.

A lifetime measurement has been made for the first excited 11/2(+) state in the proton-unbound nucleus (109)(53)I56 using the recoil-distance Doppler-shift method in conjunction with recoil-proton ...

A 985 MeV 178 Hf beam was Coulomb excited by a 208 Pb target at the ATLAS accelerator of Argonne National Laboratory. Gammasphere and the CHICO particle detector recorded particle-γ coincidence data. The aim was to populate and determine the mechanism of previously observed Coulomb excitation of the Kπ = 6+ (t1/2 = 77 ns ), 8- (4 s ) and 16+ (31 y ) isomer bands. New rotational bands were identified including an aligned band which appears to mix with the ground-state band (GSB) and the γ-vibrational band above ~ 12 ħ of angular momentum. Newly observed γ-decay transitions into the three isomer bands may elucidate the K-mixing which allows Coulomb excitation of these isomer bands, but direct decays from the GSB into the 16+ isomer band have not yet been confirmed.

The lifetime of an excited state above a weakly populated isomer in the proton-unbound odd-odd nucleus 144Ho has been measured using the recoil distance Doppler shift method. This measurement represents the first differential-plunger lifetime measurement to utilize recoil-isomer tagging. The first excited I[pi]=(10+) state above the two-quasiparticle [pi]h11/2[circle times operator][nu]h11/2(8+) isomer was determined to have a lifetime of [tau]=6(1)�ps. Potential energy surface calculations, based on the configuration-constrained blocking method, predict the isomeric state to have [gamma]-soft triaxial-nuclear shape with [gamma][approximate]24�. The lifetime of the (10+) state can be understood from these calculations if there is a degree of rotational alignment in this band, with the K value being lower than the bandhead spin. However, the validity of the K quantum number with large predicted triaxiality and gamma softness requires further theoretical study.

An overview of results in fusion studies with stable beams spanning different mass regions and energy ranges is presented. The advantages offered by studying channel coupling effects, involving low-lying excited states of the colliding nuclei, as well as the difficulties in understanding the influence of transfer couplings on fusion, are firstly remarked. The competition of fusion with quasi-fission in heavy systems and the unexpected steep falloff of fusion cross sections at far sub-barrier energies are finally discussed.

Excited states in the N = 88 nucleus Tb-153 were observed up to spin similar to 40 in an experiment utilizing the Gammasphere array. The Tb-153 states were populated in a weak alpha 4n evaporation channel of the Cl-37 + Sn-124 reaction. Two previously known sequences were extended to higher spins, and a new decoupled structure was identified. The pi h(11/2) band was observed in the spin region where other N = 88 isotopes exhibit effects of prolate to oblate shape changes leading to band termination along the yrast line, whereas Tb-153 displays a persistent collective behavior. However, minor perturbations of the very highest state in both signatures of this h(11/2) band are observed, which perhaps signal the start of the transition towards band termination. (Less)

The Sn-124(Cl-37, 6n gamma) fusion-evaporation reaction at a bombarding energy of 180 MeV has been used to significantly extend the excitation level scheme of Ho-155(67)88. The collective rotational behavior of this nucleus breaks down above spin I similar to 30 and a fully aligned noncollective (band terminating) state has been identified at I-pi = 79/2(-). Comparison with cranked Nilsson-Strutinsky calculations also provides evidence for core-excited noncollective states at I-pi = 87/2(-) and (89/2(+)) involving particle-hole excitations across the Z = 64 shell gap. A similar core-excited state in Er-156(68)88 at I-pi = (46(+)) is also presented.

Excited states in the neutron-deficient nucleus $_{72}^{161}\mathrm{Hf}_{89}$ have been populated using the $^{118}\mathrm{Sn}(^{48}\mathrm{Ti},5n)^{161}\mathrm{Hf}$ and $^{110}\mathrm{Pd}(^{56}\mathrm{Fe},5n)^{161}\mathrm{Hf}$ fusion-evaporation reactions at 240 and 270 MeV, respectively. The level scheme for $^{161}\mathrm{Hf}$ has been extended with the observation of new band structures and an ${I}^{\ensuremath{\pi}}=(13/{2}^{+})$ isomeric state with a half-life of 4.8(2) $\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{s}$ has been identified. The decay path from this isomer to the $(7/{2}^{\ensuremath{-}})$ ground state is established. The yrast band, based on the $(13/{2}^{+})$ isomeric state, is extended up to $(73/{2}^{+})$ and side band structures are identified up to $(69/{2}^{\ensuremath{-}})$ and $(55/{2}^{\ensuremath{-}})$. Quasiparticle assignments for these rotational structures are made on the basis of their alignment properties and Woods-Saxon cranked shell-model calculations.

The half-lives of the 9/2 + , 13/2+ , and 15/2+ yrast states in the neutron-rich 67Cu nucleus were determined by using the in-beam fast-timing technique. The experimentally deduced E3 transition strength for the decay of the 9/2+ level to the 3/2- ground state indicates that the wave function of this level might contain a collective component arising from the coupling of the odd proton p3/2 with the 3- state in 66Ni. Theoretical interpretations of the 9/2+ state are presented within the particle-vibration weak-coupling scheme involving the unpaired proton and the 3- state from 66Ni and within shell-model calculations with a 56Ni core using the jj44b residual interaction. The shell model also accounts reasonably well for the other measured electromagnetic transition probabilities.

A range of high resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy measurements have been carried out using arrays which include a number of Cerium-doped Lanthanum-Tribromide (LrBr3 (Ce)) scintillation detectors used in conjunction with high-resolution hyper-pure germanium detectors. Examples of the spectral and temporal responses of such set-ups, using both standard point radioactive sources 152 Eu and 56 Co, and in-beam fusionevaporation reaction experiments for precision measurements of nuclear excited states in 34 P and 138 Ce are presented. The current and future use of such arrays at existing (EURICA at RIKEN) and future (NUSTAR at FAIR) secondary radioactive beam facilities for precision measurements of excited nuclear state lifetimes in the 10 ps to 10 ns regime are also discussed.

The half-life of the yrast I π = 2+ state in the neutron-rich nucleus 188W has been measured using fast-timing techniques with the HPGe and LaBr3:Ce array at the National Institute of Physics and Nuclear Engineering, Bucharest. The resulting value of t1/2 = 0.87(12) ns is equivalent to a reduced transition probability of B(E2; 2+ 1 → 0+ 1 ) = 85(12) W.u. for this transition. The B(E2; 2+ 1 → 0+ 1 ) is compared to neighboring tungsten isotopes and nuclei in the Hf, Os, and Pt isotopic chains. Woods-Saxon potential energy surface (PES) calculations have been performed for nuclei in the tungsten isotopic chain and predict prolate deformed minima with rapidly increasing γ softness for 184–192W and an oblate minimum for 194W.

An in-beam study has been performed to further investigate the known isomeric decays and to identify $T=1$ excited states in the medium-heavy $N=Z=33$ nucleus ${}^{66}$As. The fusion-evaporation reaction ${}^{40}$Ca(${}^{28}$Si,$pn$)${}^{66}$As was employed at beam energies of 75 and 83 MeV. The half-lives and ordering of two known isomeric states in ${}^{66}$As have been determined with improved accuracy. In addition, several prompt $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray transitions from excited states, both bypassing and decaying to the isomeric states in ${}^{66}$As, have been observed. Most importantly, candidates for the ${4}^{+}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{2}^{+}$ and ${6}^{+}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{4}^{+}$ transitions in the $T=1$ band have been identified. The results are compared with shell-model calculations using the modern JUN45 interaction in the $p{f}_{5/2}{g}_{9/2}$ model space.

The near-yrast structure of the near-magic, odd-odd nucleus, ${}_{39}^{88}$Y${}_{49}$, has been studied into the high-spin regime. Investigations were performed at the Wright Nuclear Structure Laboratory, Yale University, using the ${}^{74}$Ge(${}^{18}$O,$p3n$) and ${}^{76}$Ge(${}^{18}$O,$p5n$) fusion-evaporation reactions at beam energies of 60 and 90 MeV, respectively. Gamma-ray energy coincidence analyses using both double (${\ensuremath{\gamma}}^{2}$) and triple (${\ensuremath{\gamma}}^{3}$) fold coincidences, together with angular correlation measurements, have been used to extend the previously reported level scheme to an excitation energy of 8.6 MeV and a spin and parity of 19${}^{(\ensuremath{-})}$. The presented level scheme is compared with predictions of a truncated valence space shell-model calculation, which assumes an inert ${}^{56}$Ni core with proton and neutron excitations allowed within the ${f}_{5/2}$, ${p}_{3/2}$, ${p}_{1/2}$, and ${g}_{9/2}$ single-particle states. The shell-model calculations show a reasonable comparison with the experimental data for the yrast, positive-parity states up to spin 18 $\ensuremath{\hbar}$, with larger variations evident for negative-parity states with spins greater than 16 $\ensuremath{\hbar}$. In spite of a significant increase in angular momentum input associated with the thin target ${}^{76}$Ge(${}^{18}$O,$p5n$) reaction channel, as compared to the backed target data using the ${}^{74}$Ge target, no additional discrete states were identified in the former data set, suggesting that the level scheme for this nucleus fragments significantly above the observed states, possibly indicating cross-shell excitations becoming dominant for $Ig$19 $\ensuremath{\hbar}$.

The half-life of the Iπ=6+ yrast state at Ex=2294 keV in 138Ce has been measured as T1/2=880(19) ps using the fast-timing γ-ray coincidence method with a mixed LaBr3(Ce)-HPGe array. The excited states in 138Ce have been populated by the 130Te(12C,4n) fusion-evaporation reaction at an incident beam energy of 56 MeV. The extracted B(E2;61+→41+)=0.101(24) W.u. value is compared with the predictions of truncated basis shell model calculations and with the systematics of the region. This shows an anomalous behavior compared to the neighboring isotonic and isotopic chains. Half-lives for the yrast 5-, 11+ and 14+ states in 138Ce have also been determined in this work.

A newdecay-spectroscopystation(DSS)has been developed to be coupled to the collinear resonance ionization spectroscopy (CRIS) beam line at CERN-ISOLDE. The system uses a rotatable wheel with ten 20 mg=cm2 carbon foils as beam implantation sites for the efficient measurement of charged decay products. Silicon detectors are placed on either side of the carbon foil in an optimal geometry to cover a large solid angle for detecting these charged particles. In addition to the silicon detectors at the on-beam axis position, a second pair of off-beam axis detectors are placed at the wheel position 108 deg. away, allowing longer-lived species to be studied. Up to three high purity germanium detectors can be placed around the chamber for particle-gamma correlated measurement. The radioactive beam is transported through the CRIS beam line before implantation into a carbon foil at the DSS. All materials used in the DSS are UHV-compatible to maintain high vacuum conditions required by the CRIS beam line. This paper describes the DSS and presents the first data collected at the setup during the commissioning run with 221Fr. ispartof: Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research A vol:707 pages:35-39 status: published

The Collinear Resonance Ionization Spectroscopy (CRIS) experiment at ISOLDE, CERN, uses laser radiation to stepwise excite and ionize an atomic beam for the purpose of ultra-sensitive detection of rare isotopes, and hyperfine-structure measurements. The technique also offers the ability to purify an ion beam that is heavily contaminated with radioactive isobars, including the ground state of an isotope from its isomer, allowing decay spectroscopy on nuclear isomeric states to be performed. The isomeric ion beam is selected by resonantly exciting one of its hyperfine structure levels, and subsequently ionizing it. This selectively ionized beam is deflected to a decay spectroscopy station (DSS). This consists of a rotating wheel implantation system for alpha- and beta-decay spectroscopy, and up to three germanium detectors around the implantation site for gamma-ray detection. Resonance ionization spectroscopy and the new technique of laser assisted nuclear decay spectroscopy have recently been performed at the CRIS beam line on the neutron-deficient francium isotopes. Here an overview of the two techniques will be presented, alongside a description of the CRIS beam line and DSS. ispartof: pages:01007-4 ispartof: EPJ Web of Conferences vol:63 pages:01007-4 ispartof: Heavy Ion Accelerator Symposium 2013 location:Canberra, Australia date:8 Apr - 12 Apr 2013 status: published

Lifetime measurements have been made in the neutron-deficient nucleus ${}^{109}$Te using the coincident recoil distance Doppler-shift method. The experimental $B(E2)$ values have been compared with state-of-the-art shell-model calculations using the monopole-corrected realistic charge-dependent Bonn nucleon-nucleon potential. Lifetimes in the $\ensuremath{\nu}{h}_{11/2}$ band are consistent with an interpretation based on the deformation driving properties of a single valence neutron outside of the even-even tellurium core and highlight the unexpected presence of collective behavior as the $N=50$ shell closure is approached. Lifetime measurements for the low-lying positive-parity states also appear to correlate well with shell-model calculations. In addition, a comparison with the proton-unbound nucleus ${}^{109}$I suggests that the presence of a single decoupled valence proton affects the total measured $B(E2)$ strengths in a manner that is not currently well understood.

This work was partially supported by the European Community FP6, Structuring the ERA Integrated Infrastructure Initiative Contract No. EURONS RII3-CT-2004-506065, by MICINN, Spain (Contract No. FPA2011-29854), by IN2P3, France (Contract No. AIC-D-2011-648), by Comunidad de Madrid, Spain (Contract No. HEPHACOS S2009-ESP-1473), and by Generalitat Valenciana, Spain (Contract No. PROMETEO/ 2010/101). A. Gadea and E. Farnea acknowledge the support of MICINN, Spain, and INFN, Italy, through the AIC-D-2011-0746 bilateral action

The half-life of the 2305-keV, Iπ=4(−) intruder state in 34P has been measured as t1/2=2.0(1) ns using γ-ray coincidence, fast-timing techniques with the Bucharest HPGe and LaBr3:Ce detector array. Excited states in 34P were populated using the 18O(18O,pn)34P fusion-evaporation reaction at a beam energy of 36 MeV. Reduced transition probabilities have been calculated for different values of the M2/E3 mixing ratio, δE3/M2, and compared with shell-model estimates. For small values of the mixing ratio, the B(M2) value was found to be consistent with similar transitions associated with the occupation of neutron f7/2 configurations in this mass region.

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.

States above the known ${K}^{\ensuremath{\pi}}={8}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ 6 $\ensuremath{\mu}$s isomer in $^{138}\mathrm{Gd}$ have been populated with the $^{106}\mathrm{Cd}$($^{36}\mathrm{Ar}$,$2p2n$) reaction at a beam energy of 180 MeV at the University of Jyv\"askyl\"a, Finland. The recoil-isomer tagging technique was utilized to correlate delayed $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray decays, detected in the GREAT focal plane spectrometer, with prompt decays measured in the JUROGAM II spectrometer at the target position. The lifetime of the ${K}^{\ensuremath{\pi}}={8}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ isomeric state has been remeasured as 6.2(2) $\ensuremath{\mu}$s. Two high-lying strongly coupled bands have been established with ${K}^{\ensuremath{\pi}}\ensuremath{\geqslant}{12}^{\ensuremath{-}}$. Potential-energy surface calculations, in conjunction with $g$ factor measurements, reveal that they are built upon four-quasiparticle structures comprising two-quasineutron plus two-quasiproton configurations. The short half-life or lack of hindrance for the decays from these four-quasiparticle band-head states is reasoned to be a consequence of increased triaxial deformation and mixing due to the high density of states relative to the lower two-quasiparticle 6-$\ensuremath{\mu}$s isomeric state.

Recoil-isomer tagging with the {sup 54}Fe+{sup 92}Mo reaction was used to establish a 10(2)-{mu}s isomeric state in {sup 139}Eu. Prompt versus delayed {gamma}-ray coincidence data have revealed the presence of a prompt rotational band built upon the isomer. The alignment properties of the states in this band show that the isomer is based upon a proton g{sub 7/2} configuration. The decay of the isomer takes place through a single 26-keV E1 transition. The {gamma}-ray transition strength for this decay is consistent with those established in the neighboring isomeric gamma-soft nuclei. In these nuclei, isomers are expected to form as a consequence of differences in nuclear shapes or configurations, and the natural hindrance associated with configuration-changing E1 transitions. The isomeric nature of the state in {sup 139}Eu is reasoned to be because of difference in shape of the proton g{sub 7/2} state and the proton h{sub 11/2} ground state to which it decays.

The population and gamma decay of neutron rich nuclei around 48Ca has been measured at Legnaro National Laboratory with the PRISMA-CLARA setup, using deep-inelastic collisions (DIC) on 64Ni, at an energy approximately twice the Coulomb barrier. The reaction properties of the main products are investigated, focusing on total cross sections and angular distributions both integrated in energy and associated to the population of specific excited states. Gamma spectroscopy studies are also performed, giving evidence, for the first time in transfer reactions with heavy ions, of a large spin alignment (~70%), perpendicular to the reaction plane. This makes possible the use of angular distributions and polarization measurements to firmly establish the spin and parity of excited states populated in nucleon transfer channels, as in the case of 49Ca, where candidates for particle-core coupling are investigated. Both reaction and gamma spectroscopy studies demonstrate the relevance of DIC with heavy ions for a detailed investigation of moderately neutron rich systems.

Multinucleon transfer cross sections in the {sup 96}Zr+{sup 40}Ca system have been measured, in inverse kinematics, at bombarding energies ranging from the Coulomb barrier to {approx}25% below. Targetlike recoils have been identified in A, Z and velocity with the large solid angle magnetic spectrometer PRISMA. The experimental data for one- and two-neutron transfer channels have been compared with semiclassical microscopic calculations. For the two-neutron transfer channels the relevance of the transitions to the ground state and to the 0{sup +} excited states of {sup 42}Ca are discussed by employing, for the reaction mechanism, the successive approximation. It is found that the transition to the 0{sup +} state at {approx}6 MeV, whose wave function is dominated by the two neutrons in the 2p{sub 3/2} shell, is much larger than the ground state one. The comparison with the inclusive data reveals that transitions to states with high multipolarity and non-natural parity are important. This suggests that more complex two-particle correlations have to be incorporated in the treatment of the transfer process.

A Recoil‐Beta Tagging (RBT) experiment was recently performed at the accelerator laboratory at the University of Jyvaskyla in order to identify T = 1 excited states in the medium‐heavy N = Z = 33 nucleus 66As. The fusion‐evaporation reaction 28Si(40Ca,pn)66As was employed at a beam energy of 75 MeV. The experiment was carried out utilising the JUROGAM II γ‐ray spectrometer in conjunction with the gas‐filled recoil separator RITU and the GREAT focal plane spectrometer system. The half‐lives and ordering of the two known isomeric states in 66As have been determined. In addition, several new prompt γ‐ray transitions from excited states both bypassing and decaying to the isomeric states in 66As have been observed.

The Recoil‐Distance Doppler‐shift method has been combined with Recoil‐Decay Tagging for the first time to measure a lifetime in the proton‐unbound nucleus 109I. The lifetime value was determined using the Differential Decay‐Curve method in singles mode. The result has been compared to theoretical shell‐model calculations in order to better understand the nature of unbound valence nucleons at the proton drip line.

International audience; The lifetimes of low-lying transitions in 138Gd have been measured using the recoil-distance Doppler-shift technique. The resultant reduced transition probabilities have been compared to X(5) critical-point calculations to assess the potential 'phase-transitional' behaviour of 138Gd. The X(5) symmetry describes the first order 'phase transition' between sphericity, U(5) and an axially deformed nuclear shape, SU(3). Although a high degree of correspondence is observed between the experimental and theoretical excitation energies, the large uncertainties of the experimental B(E2) values cannot preclude contributions from either vibrational or rotational modes of excitation. In order to further examine the nature of low-lying states in 138Gd, ongoing work is aiming to derive solutions to the Bohr Hamiltonian using a more general potential that is not restricted to the X(5) critical point. These results, in parallel to more extensive IBM-1 calculations, will eventually be compared to the experimental results to more accurately locate 138Gd along the U(5) − SU(3) arm of the structure triangle.

Lifetime measurements have been made in the ground-state band of the transitional nucleus (138)Gd from coincidence recoil-distance Doppler-shift data. (138)Gdnuclei were produced using the (106)Cd ((36)Ar, 2p2n) reaction with a beam energy of 190 MeV. Reduced transition probabilities have been extracted from the lifetime data collected with the Koln plunger placed at the target position of the JUROGAM-II array. The B(E2) values have been compared with predictions from X(5) critical-point calculations, which describe the phase transition between vibrational and axially symmetric nuclear shapes, as well as with IBM-1 calculations at the critical point. While the excitation energies in (138)Gdare consistent with X(5) predictions, the large uncertainties associated with the measured B(E2) values cannot preclude vibrational and rotational contributions to the low-lying structure of (138)Gd. Although experimental knowledge for the low-lying gamma and beta-vibrational bands in (138)Gd is limited, potential-energy surface calculations suggest an increase in gamma softness in the ground-state band. In order to more fully account for the effects of gamma softness, the X(5) and IBM-1 calculations need to be extended to include the gamma degree of freedom for (138)Gd.

Lifetimes of low-lying excited states of the neutron-rich $^{44,46}\mathrm{Ar}$ nuclei, populated via multinucleon transfer reactions, are measured by means of the differential recoil distance Doppler shift method. The extracted electromagnetic transition probabilities are compared with previous intermediate-energy Coulomb-excitation measurements and with large-scale shell-model calculations. The increase in the deduced $B$($E2;{2}^{+}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{0}^{+}$) transition probability from $^{44}\mathrm{Ar}$ to the closed-shell nucleus $^{46}\mathrm{Ar}$ contradicts the earlier results of Coulomb-excitation experiments. Shell-model calculations using different effective interactions agree with the new measured values.

The known level scheme of {sup 144}Dy has been extended and lifetime measurements have been made with the recoil-distance Doppler-shift method. Reduced transition probabilities and deformations have been determined for four low-lying transitions. These states form part of the first observed band crossing, giving information on the change in nuclear deformation resulting from the rearrangement of h{sub 11/2} protons in the nucleus. Two bands built upon excited 10{sup +} states have been assigned pi(h{sub 11/2}){sup 2} prolate and nu(h{sub 11/2}){sup -2} oblate configurations with tau=12(2)ps and 0.01

Excited states in the proton-unbound odd-odd nucleus $^{144}\mathrm{Ho}$ have been populated using the $^{92}\mathrm{Mo}(^{54}\mathrm{Fe},\mathit{pn})^{144}\mathrm{Ho}$ reaction and studied using the recoil-isomer-tagging technique. The alignment properties and signature splitting of the rotational band above the ${I}^{\ensuremath{\pi}}=({8}^{+})^{144m}\mathrm{Ho}$ isomer have been analyzed and the isomer confirmed to have a $\ensuremath{\pi}{h}_{11/2}\ensuremath{\bigotimes}\ensuremath{\nu}{h}_{11/2}$ two-quasiparticle configuration. The configuration-constrained blocking method has been used to calculate the shapes of the ground and isomeric states, which are both predicted to have triaxial nuclear shapes with $|\ensuremath{\gamma}|\ensuremath{\approx}{24}^{\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}}$.

Recoil-isomer tagging at the Accelerator Laboratory of the University of Jyvaeskylae has been used to establish the isomeric nature of a known (7{sup -}) excited state in the doubly odd nucleus {sup 134}Pm. The isomeric state was determined to have a half-life of 20(1) {mu}s and was populated from the decay of a {pi}h{sub 11/2} x {nu}h{sub 11/2} band using the {sup 92}Mo({sup 54}Fe,2{alpha}3pn) reaction at 305 and 315 MeV. The isomer decays by a 71-keV transition that provides an intermediate step in linking the established {sup 134}Pm high-spin level scheme to the lower-spin states observed from the {beta} decay of {sup 134}Sm. Electron-conversion analysis for the 71-keV {gamma}-ray transition reveals that it is of E1 character and its small reduced-transition probability suggests that {sup 134}Pm may have a nuclear shape more rigid than that of the neighboring nuclei.