Absolute β-to-ground band transition strengths in 154Sm.

Low-lying collective states of 154Sm are studied via the 12C(154Sm,154Sm*) Coulomb excitation reaction at 85% of the Coulomb barrier (570 MeV) using the Gammasphere Ge-detector array. Absolute transition strengths are obtained from the Coulomb excitation cross sections deduced from the relative y-ray yields. The results include transition strengths for E2 decays of energy levels in the low-spin part of the first excited K= 0+ rotational band of 154Sm. The agreement of these results with the confined β-soft rotor model predictions establishes the assignment of this band as a β band. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]