Excited states in the proton-unbound nuclide Ta-158

Excited states in the neutron-deficient odd-odd proton-unbound nuclide Ta-158 have been investigated in two separate experiments. In the first experiment, Ir-166 nuclei were produced in the reactions of 380 MeV Kr-78 ions with an isotopically enriched Mo-92 target. The alpha-decay chain of the 9(+) state in Ir-166 was analyzed. Fine structure in the a decay of the 9(+) state in Re-162 established a 66 keV difference in excitation energy between the lowest-lying 9(+) and 10(+) states in Ta-158. Higher-lying states in Ta-158 were populated in the reactions of 255 MeV Ni-58 ions with an isotopically enriched Pd-102 target. Gamma-ray decay paths that populate, depopulate, and bypass a 19(-) isomeric state have been identified. The general features of the deduced level scheme are discussed and the prospects for observing proton emission branches from excited states are considered.
QC 20160406