O. Dorvaux

High-spin study of neutron-deficient 114Xe

Abstract High-spin states have been populated in 114 54 Xe via the 58 Ni( 58 Ni, 2p) reaction at 210 MeV, using the Jurosphere γ -ray spectrometer to record γ -ray coincidences. The known level scheme has been significantly extended and includes two positive-parity and three negative-parity structures. At the highest spins, one of the negative-parity bands becomes yrast and shows the characteristics of a smoothly terminating band. Quadrupole moments for two of the bands at high spin have been estimated through a Doppler-broadened lineshape analysis; the terminating band has a reduced quadrupole moment implying that it is not far from full termination into a noncollective oblate state. Extracted B( E 1) strengths are discussed in terms of possible octupole collectivity.

Isomeric state in the doubly odd 196At nucleus

An excited isomeric state has been identified in the 196At nucleus using the recoil decay tagging technique. This is the first identification of an excited state in this neutron-deficient odd-odd nucleus. Several tentative prompt γ-rays have also been correlated with 196At α-decay, although it has not been possible to assign them to specific energy levels in 196At. The mean lifetime of the isomeric state has been measured as τ = 11±2 µs. The new level is compared with similar low-lying states in neighbouring nuclei and is de-excited by an E2 γ-ray transition, the large hindrance of which is not expected.

Recoil-isomer tagging techniques at RITU

Techniques have been developed to study isomeric states in nuclei with the use of RITU (gas filled separator) at the University of Jyvaskyla. The first was the recoil-isomer tagging technique initially, utilised by D.M. Cullen to study the K π = 8− isomeric state in 138Gd [1]. The juro-sphere array was employed in conjunction with ritu and a focal plane array which consisted of several Compton-suppressed Germanium detectors, placed in close geometry around a multi wire proportional counter (mwpc) and a silicon strip detector used for the implantation of recoiling nuclei. This technique correlates prompt and delayed γ-ray transitions across isomeric states and identifies the lifetime of the isomer. The main constraint of this technique is the timing electronics. Only isomers with a half-life greater than the flight time through RITU(~ 300ns) and less than the collection time of the tdc’s (32 μs) can be identified. This time range and hence technique is ideal for the region of mass A = 140 near proton drip line nuclei which have small production cross-sections in comparison to their more neutron rich neighbours and lack charged particle emission suitable for recoil-decay-tagging. Subsequent experiments to ref.