Signatures of the Z = 82 shell closure in α-decay process.

In recent experiments at the velocity filter Separator for Heavy Ion reaction Products (SHIP) (GSI, Darmstadt), an extended and improved set of α-decay data for more than 20 of the most neutron-deficient isotopes in the region from lead to thorium was obtained. The combined analysis of this newly available α-decay data, of which the (186)Po decay is reported here, allowed us for the first time to clearly show that crossing the Z = 82 shell to higher proton numbers strongly accelerates the α decay. From the experimental data, the α-particle formation probabilities are deduced following the Universal Decay Law approach. The formation probabilities are discussed in the framework of the pairing force acting among the protons and the neutrons forming the α particle. A striking resemblance between the phenomenological pairing gap deduced from experimental binding energies and the formation probabilities is noted. These findings support the conjecture that both the N = 126 and Z = 82 shell closures strongly influence the α-formation probability.

Low-energy enhancement in the photon strength of 95Mo.

A new experimental technique is presented using proton-γ-γ correlations from (94)Mo(d,p)(95)Mo reactions which allows for the model-independent extraction of the photon strength function at various excitation energies using primary γ-ray decay from the quasicontinuum to individual low-lying levels. Detected particle energies provide the entrance excitation energies into the residual nucleus while γ-ray transitions from low-lying levels specify the discrete states being fed. Results strongly support the existence of the previously reported low-energy enhancement in the photon strength function.

New features of shape coexistence in ;{152}Sm.

Excited states in ;{152}Sm have been investigated with the ;{152}Sm(n,n;{'}gamma) reaction. The lowest four negative-parity band structures have been characterized in detail with respect to their absolute decay properties. Specifically, a new K;{pi} = 0;{-} band has been assigned with its 1;{-} band head at 1681 keV. This newly observed band has a remarkable similarity in its E1 transition rates for decay to the first excited K;{pi} = 0;{+} band at 684 keV to the lowest K;{pi} = 0;{-} band and its decay to the ground-state band. Based on these decay properties, as well as energy considerations, this new band is assigned as a K;{pi} = 0;{-} octupole excitation based on the K;{pi} = 0_{2};{+} state. An emerging pattern of repeating excitations built on the 0_{2};{+} level similar to those built on the ground state may indicate that ;{152}Sm is a complex example of shape coexistence rather than a critical point nucleus.

Lifetime measurement of the first excited 2+ state in 16C.

The lifetime of the 2_+(1) state in 16C has been measured with the recoil distance method using the 9Be(9Be,2p) fusion-evaporation reaction at a beam energy of 40 MeV. The mean lifetime was measured to be 11.7(20) ps corresponding to a B(E2;2_+(1)-->0+) value of 4.15(73)e_2 fm_4 [1.73(30) W.u.], consistent with other even-even closed shell nuclei. Our result does not support an interpretation for "decoupled" valence neutrons.

Nuclear charge radii of neutron-deficient lead isotopes beyond N = 104 midshell investigated by in-source laser spectroscopy.

The shape of exotic even-mass (182-190)Pb isotopes was probed by measurement of optical isotope shifts providing mean square charge radii (delta(r(2))). The experiment was carried out at the isolde (cern) on-line mass separator, using in-source laser spectroscopy. Small deviations from the spherical droplet model are observed, but when compared to model calculations, those are explained by high sensitivity of delta(r(2)) to beyond mean-field correlations and small admixtures of intruder configurations in the ground state. The data support the predominantly spherical shape of the ground state of the proton-magic Z=82 lead isotopes near neutron midshell (N=104).

Identification of mixed-symmetry states in an odd-mass nearly spherical nucleus.

The low-spin structure of 93Nb has been studied using the (n,n'gamma) reaction at neutron energies ranging from 1.5 to 3 MeV and the 94Zr(p,2ngamma)93Nb reaction at bombarding energies from 11.5 to 19 MeV. States at 1779.7 and 1840.6 keV, respectively, are proposed as mixed-symmetry states associated with the pi2p(1/2)-1x(2(1),MS+,94Mo) coupling. These assignments are derived from the observed M1 and E2 transition strengths to the 2p(1/2)-1x(2(1)+,94Mo) symmetric one-phonon states, energy systematics, spins and parities, and comparison with shell model calculations.

Lifetime Measurements in (178)Hf.

Lifetimes of levels from K(π) = 2(+), K(π) = 4(+) and several K(π) = 0(+) bands have been measured in the (178)Hf nucleus using the GRID technique. Lifetimes of the 2(+) and 3(+) levels were measured within the K(π) = 2(+) γ band. A lower limit was established for the lifetime of the 4(+) level of the K(π) = 4(+) band. The resulting upper limits for the absolute B(E2) values exclude collective transitions from the K(π) = 4(+) to the ground state band but not to the K(π)= 2(+) band. Level lifetimes were also measured for several states within three separate K(π)= 0(+) bands. Evidence is presented for a previously unobserved case of two excited K(π)= 0(+) bands being connected via collective E2 transitions.