Octupole bands of Gd isotopes

Excited states in 154,156,158,160 Gd have been populated through the multiple coulomb excitation process by 32 S, 48 Ti, 58 Ni ions. The ground band, γ-band and octupole K π = 0 − band were extended to I π = 16 + , (12 + ), and (11 − ) state respectively in 160 Gd. The octupole K π = 1 − band was extended to I π = 9 − state in 158 Gd. Excitation cross sections of individual levels relative to that of the I π = 4 + state in the ground band in each nucleus were compared with the simulation by the computer code GOSIA within the framework of the pure rotational model. From these comparisons the matrix elements for both intra-band and inter-band transitions were deduced.