Search

In the heaviest elements, the instability of atomic nuclei against spontaneous fission leads to ever shorter nuclear half-lives. Upon falling below a timescale of ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}14}$ s, the border of existence of isotopes is crossed because this is the timescale on which the formation of atomic shells occurs. Analysis of the experimental data on the spontaneous fission half-lives of Rf isotopes in relation with their expected single-particle orbitals hint at a potentially abrupt decrease in half-lives of unknown neutron-deficient Rf isotopes with neutron numbers $l149$, which suggests that the isotopic border is already almost reached. However, this conjecture, which cannot be explained within the current knowledge, was directly related to uncertainty in the experimental data on $^{253}\mathrm{Rf}$. We revisited the decay of $^{253}\mathrm{Rf}$ and identified two fission activities, which are attributed to decays of the two different states with half-lives of $12.{8}_{\ensuremath{-}3.4}^{+7.0}$ ms and ${44}_{\ensuremath{-}10}^{+17}\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{s}$. In addition, hitherto unknown $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ decay in $^{253}\mathrm{Rf}$, which is followed by $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ decay of the new isotope $^{249}\mathrm{No}$ with a half-life of ${15}_{\ensuremath{-}7}^{+74}$ ms, was observed. Based on our new data, no abrupt decreases in half-lives of the neutron-deficient No and Rf isotopes are expected, which is in line with theoretical predictions. Fission half-lives of the two different states in $^{253}\mathrm{Rf}$ are benchmark cases for the theoretical description of the single-particle orbital influence on the fission process.

The question of the number and origin of isomeric states in $^{256}\mathrm{Rf}$ arose from two independent experiments but remained unanswered for a decade. To shed light on this puzzle, we studied isomeric decay in $^{256}\mathrm{Rf}$ by measuring conversion electrons with fast fully digital electronics. $^{256}\mathrm{Rf}$ was produced in the fusion-evaporation reactions of $^{50}\mathrm{Ti}+^{207}\mathrm{Pb}$ and $^{50}\mathrm{Ti}+^{208}\mathrm{Pb}$ at the gas-filled recoil separator TransActinide Separator and Chemistry Apparatus. Among a total of 120 decays of $^{256}\mathrm{Rf}$, we detected 22 and 12 decays proceeding through one and two isomeric states. Half-lives of the low- and higher-lying states were assigned to be ${T}_{1/2}={14}_{\ensuremath{-}4}^{+6}$ and ${10}_{\ensuremath{-}3}^{+5}\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{s}$, respectively. Population rates of these isomeric states were estimated to be $\ensuremath{\approx}18%$ and $g10%$, which are similar to those for two-quasiparticle $K$ isomeric states in this region of nuclei. The results, thus, confirm an earlier claim on the existence of multiple $K$ isomeric states in $^{256}\mathrm{Rf}$ and show their population rates are as high as in No isotopes. Suggestively, $K$ remains a good quantum number in isotopes of heavier elements like Sg and Hs, where yet unknown high-$K$ isomeric states still could exist. The present experimental results demonstrate that the ``triggerless'' measurement guarantees an efficient detection of delayed conversion electron signals. Thus, it is a very efficient method for the identification of isomeric states in experiments with one nucleus-at-a-time production rates.

A search for production of the superheavy elements with atomic numbers 119 and 120 was performed in the 50Ti+249Bk and 50Ti+249Cf fusion-evaporation reactions, respectively, at the gas-filled recoil separator TASCA at GSI Darmstadt, Germany. Over four months of irradiation, the 249Bk target partially decayed into 249Cf, which allowed for a simultaneous search for both elements. Neither was detected at cross-section sensitivity levels of 65 and 200 fb for the 50Ti+249Bk and 50Ti+249Cf reactions, respectively, at a midtarget beam energy of Elab=281.5 MeV. The nonobservation of elements 119 and 120 is discussed within the concept of fusion-evaporation reactions including various theoretical predictions on the fission-barrier heights of superheavy nuclei in the region of the island of stability. peerReviewed

Nuclear structure of $^{243}\mathrm{Fm}$, $^{245}\mathrm{Fm}$, and their daughter nuclei were investigated via detection of their radioactive decays, $\ensuremath{\alpha}$, $\ensuremath{\gamma}$, and spontaneous fission. Measured $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-decay energies, half-lives, and branching ratios improve the literature data significantly. A signature for detection of the hitherto unknown $^{235}\mathrm{Cm}$ was found in the $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-decay chains from $^{243}\mathrm{Fm}$. Two groups of $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ events with average energies of 6.69(2) MeV and 7.01(2) MeV and with a half-life of ${T}_{1/2}={300}_{\ensuremath{-}100}^{+250}$ s are suggested to originate from $^{235}\mathrm{Cm}$. Tentative decay schemes for $^{243}\mathrm{Fm}$, $^{239}\mathrm{Cf}$, $^{235}\mathrm{Cm}$, and $^{245}\mathrm{Fm}$, $^{241}\mathrm{Cf}$ isotopes are suggested based on the present experimental data. Systematical trends of single-particle states in $N=141$ isotones of $Z=92--98$ nuclei are discussed.

Spontaneous fission properties of the isotopes $^{255}\mathrm{Rf}$, $^{256}\mathrm{Rf}$, and $^{258}\mathrm{Rf}$ produced in the reactions $^{50}\mathrm{Ti}+^{207}\mathrm{Pb}$, $^{50}\mathrm{Ti}+^{208}\mathrm{Pb}$, and $^{50}\mathrm{Ti}+^{209}\mathrm{Bi}$ were studied. The method of time and position correlations was used to identify spontaneous fission events. The correction to the energy deficit in measured total kinetic energy (TKE) determined on the basis of a study of $^{252}\mathrm{No}$ was applied to evaluate the $\overline{\mathrm{TKE}}$ of investigated rutherfordium isotopes. A signature which we assigned tentatively to bimodal fission was observed in TKE distributions of $^{255}\mathrm{Rf}$ and $^{256}\mathrm{Rf}$. Two new high-K isomeric states in $^{255}\mathrm{Rf}$ were identified by ER-CE-(CE)-$\ensuremath{\alpha}$/SF correlation search, with half-lives of ${38}_{\ensuremath{-}7}^{+12}$ and ${15}_{\ensuremath{-}4}^{+6}$ $\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{s}$ at excitation energies 1150--1450 and 900--1200 keV, respectively. Including those metastable states a tentative partial level scheme was proposed.

The heaviest currently known nuclei, which have up to 118 protons, have been produced in 48Ca induced reactions with actinide targets. Among them, the element tennessine (Ts), which has 117 protons, has been synthesized by fusing 48Ca with the radioactive target 249Bk, which has a half-life of 327 d. The experiment was performed at the gas-filled recoil separator TASCA. Two long and two short α decay chains were observed. The long chains were attributed to the decay of 294Ts. The possible origin of the short-decay chains is discussed in comparison with the known experimental data. They are found to fit with the decay chain patterns attributed to 293Ts. The present experimental results confirm the previous findings at the Dubna Gas-Filled Recoil Separator on the decay chains originating from the nuclei assigned to Ts.

Short-lived α-decaying nuclei "northeast" of 208Pb in the chart of nuclides were studied using the reaction 48Ca+243Am with the decay station TASISpec at TASCA, GSI Darmstadt. Decay energies and times from pile-up events were extracted with a tailor-made pulse-shape analysis routine and specific α-decay chains were identified in a correlation analysis. Decay chains starting with the even-even 220Ra and its odd-A neighbors, 219Fr, and 219,221Ra, with a focus on the 219Ra→215Rn decay, were studied by means of α-γ spectroscopy. A revised α-decay scheme of 219Ra is proposed, including a new decay branch from a previously not considered isomeric state at 17 keV excitation energy. Conclusions on nuclear structure are drawn from the experimental data, aided by Geant4 simulations and a discussion on theoretical calculations. (Less)

The production of the heaviest elements in fusion-evaporation reactions is substantially limited by very low cross sections, as fusion cross sections (including fusion-fission) are greatly reduced by the competing quasifission mechanism. Using the Australian National University Heavy Ion Accelerator Facility and CUBE detector array, fission fragments from the $^{48}\mathrm{Ti}+^{204,208}\mathrm{Pb}$ and $^{50}\mathrm{Ti}+^{206,208}\mathrm{Pb}$ reactions have been measured, with the aim to investigate how the competition between quasifission and fusion-fission evolves with small changes in entrance-channel properties associated mainly with the nuclear structure. Analysis of mass-distribution widths of strongly mass-angle-correlated fission fragments within the framework of the compound-nucleus fission theory demonstrates significant differences in quasifission (and therefore fusion) probabilities among the four reactions. The impact of nuclear structure on fusion highlights the importance of future radioactive beams.

Isomeric states in $^{194}\mathrm{Po}$ and $^{192}\mathrm{Po}$ were studied at the velocity filter SHIP. The isotopes were produced in the fusion-evaporation reactions $^{141}\mathrm{Pr}$($^{56}\mathrm{Fe}, \mathrm{p}2\mathrm{n})^{194}\mathrm{Po}$ and $^{144}\mathrm{Sm}$($^{51}\mathrm{V}, \mathrm{p}2\mathrm{n})^{192}\mathrm{Po}$. Several new $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray transitions were attributed to the isomers and $\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\gamma}$ coincidences for both isomers were studied for the first time. The 459-keV transition earlier, tentatively proposed as de-exciting the isomeric level in $^{194}\mathrm{Po}$, was replaced by a new 248-keV transition, and the spin of this isomer was reassigned from (${11}^{\ensuremath{-}}$) to (${10}^{\ensuremath{-}}$). The de-excitation of the (${11}^{\ensuremath{-}}$) isomeric level in $^{192}\mathrm{Po}$ by the 154-keV transition was confirmed and a parallel de-excitation by a 733-keV ($E3$) transition to (${8}^{+}$) level of the ground-state band was suggested. Moreover, side feeding to the (${4}^{+}$) level of the ground-state band was proposed. The paper also discusses strengths of transitions de-exciting ${11}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ isomers in neighboring Po and Pb isotopes.

Levels in $^{223}\mathrm{Th}$ populated by the $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ decay of $^{227}\mathrm{U}$ were investigated using $\ensuremath{\alpha}\text{\ensuremath{-}}\ensuremath{\gamma}$ decay spectroscopy. The $^{227}\mathrm{U}$ isotope was produced in the fusion-evaporation reaction $^{22}\mathrm{Ne}+^{208}\mathrm{Pb}$ at the velocity filter separator for heavy-ion reaction products at Gesellschaft f\"ur Schwerionenforschung in Darmstadt (Germany). Several new excited levels and $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ transitions were identified in $^{223}\mathrm{Th}$. An improved $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-decay scheme of $^{227}\mathrm{U}$ was suggested. The experimental $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-decay energy spectrum of $^{227}\mathrm{U}$ was compared with the Monte Carlo simulation performed using the toolkit geant4.

Background: Mass-asymmetric fission has been observed in low energy fission of $^{180}\mathrm{Hg}$. Calculations predicted the persistence of asymmetric fission in this region even at excitation energies of 30--40 MeV.Purpose: To investigate fission mass distributions by populating different isotopes of Hg using heavy ion fusion reactions.Methods: Fission fragment mass-angle distributions have been measured for two reactions, $^{40}\mathrm{Ca}+^{142}\mathrm{Nd}$ and $^{13}\mathrm{C}+^{182}\mathrm{W}$, populating $^{182}\mathrm{Hg}$ and $^{195}\mathrm{Hg}$, respectively, using the Heavy Ion Accelerator Facility and CUBE spectrometer at the Australian National University. Measurements were made at beam energies around the capture barrier for the two reactions and mass ratio distributions were obtained using the kinematic reconstruction method.Results: Asymmetric fission has been observed following the population of $^{182}\mathrm{Hg}$ at an excitation energy of 22.8 MeV above the saddle point. A symmetric peaked mass ratio distribution was observed for $^{195}\mathrm{Hg}$ nuclei at a similar excitation energy above the saddle point.Conclusions: Mass-asymmetric fission has been observed in neutron deficient Hg nuclei populated via heavy ion fusion for the first time. The results are consistent with observations from beta-delayed fission measurements and provide a proof-of-principle for expanding experimental studies of the influence of shell effects on the fission processes.

The isotope $^{176}\mathrm{Au}$ has been studied in the complete fusion reaction $^{40}\mathrm{Ca}+^{141}\mathrm{Pr} \phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\rightarrow} {}^{176}\mathrm{Au}+5n$ at the velocity filter SHIP (GSI, Darmstadt). The complex fine-structure $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ decay of two isomeric states in $^{176}\mathrm{Au}$ feeding several previously unknown excited states in the daughter nucleus $^{172}\mathrm{Ir}$ is presented. An $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-decay branching ratio of ${b}_{\ensuremath{\alpha}}=9.5(11)%$ was deduced for the high-spin isomer in $^{172}\mathrm{Ir}$.

Decay properties of the neutron-deficient nuclides ${}^{201--203}\mathrm{Ra}$ and ${}^{200--202}\mathrm{Fr}$ were investigated using $\ensuremath{\alpha}$- and $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-decay spectroscopy. The nuclei were produced in fusion-evaporation reactions of ${}^{56}$Fe projectiles with enriched ${}^{147}$Sm and ${}^{149}$Sm targets at the velocity filter SHIP at GSI in Darmstadt (Germany). The $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ decay from the (3/2${}^{\ensuremath{-}}$) state in ${}^{201}$Ra was identified with an energy ${E}_{\ensuremath{\alpha}}=7842(12)$ keV and half-life ${T}_{1/2}={8}_{\ensuremath{-}4}^{+40}$ ms. Ambiguous decay properties for ${}^{202}$Ra from previous measurements were clarified by remeasuring with significantly improved precision, resulting in values of ${E}_{\ensuremath{\alpha}}=7722(7)$ keV and ${T}_{1/2}=3.{8}_{\ensuremath{-}0.8}^{+1.3}$ ms. New short-lived isomeric states were identified in ${}^{200}$Fr and ${}^{201}$Fr with half-lives of 0.6${}_{\ensuremath{-}0.2}^{+0.5}$ $\ensuremath{\mu}$s and 0.7${}_{\ensuremath{-}0.2}^{+0.5}$ $\ensuremath{\mu}$s, respectively. A tentative spin and parity of 13/2${}^{+}$ were assigned to the latter. One event attributed to $\ensuremath{\beta}$-delayed fission of ${}^{200}$Fr was observed.

Detailed $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-decay studies of ${}^{179}$Tl${}^{g}$ and its daughter products ${}^{175}$Au${}^{g}$ and ${}^{171}$Ir${}^{g}$ were carried out in two complementary experiments at the mass separator ISOLDE (CERN) and velocity filter SHIP (GSI). First unambiguous determination of the $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-decay properties of ${}^{175}$Au${}^{g}$ was performed as follows: ${E}_{\ensuremath{\alpha}}$ $=$ 6433(4) keV, ${T}_{1/2}$ $=$ 207(7) ms, and $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-decay branching ratio 90(7)$%$. First determination of the $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-decay branching ratios for ${}^{179}$Tl${}^{g}$ and ${}^{171}$Ir${}^{g}$ was also made: ${b}_{\ensuremath{\alpha}}$(${}^{179}$Tl${}^{g}$) $=$ 60(2)$%$ and ${b}_{\ensuremath{\alpha}}$(${}^{171}$Ir${}^{g}$) $=$ 15(2)$%$. The spins of the ground states in ${}^{175}$Au and ${}^{171}$Ir are established as 1/2${}^{+}$.

Decay properties of the very neutron-deficient isotopes ${}^{197\char21{}199}$Fr were studied at the velocity filter Separator for Heavy Ion reaction Products (SHIP) at GSI in Darmstadt. The isotopes were produced in the $2n\char21{}4n$ evaporation channels of the fusion-evaporation reaction ${}^{60}$Ni+${}^{141}$Pr $\ensuremath{\rightarrow}$ ${}^{201}$Fr*. Improved $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-decay properties of ${}^{199}$Fr were determined and the possible existence of two $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-decaying states in this nucleus is discussed. For the isotope ${}^{198}$Fr a broad $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-decay energy distribution was detected in the range of $(7470\char21{}7930)$ keV and two $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-decaying states were observed with half-lives of 1.1(7) and 15(3) ms. The new isotope ${}^{197}$Fr was identified based on the observation of one $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-decay chain yielding ${E}_{\ensuremath{\alpha}}=7728(15)$ keV and ${T}_{1/2}=0.{6}_{\ensuremath{-}0.3}^{+3.0}$ ms. The systematics of reduced $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-decay widths are presented for neutron-deficient francium, radon, and astatine isotopes.

By using the recoil-fission correlation technique, the exotic process of beta-delayed fission ($\ensuremath{\beta}$DF) was unambiguously identified in the very neutron-deficient nuclei ${}^{192,194}$At in experiments at the velocity filter SHIP at Gesellschaft f\"ur Schwerionenforschung (GSI). The upper limits for the total kinetic energy release in fission of ${}^{192,194}$Po, being the daughter products of ${}^{192,194}$At after ${\ensuremath{\beta}}^{+}/EC$ decay, were estimated. The possibility of an unusually high $\ensuremath{\beta}$DF probability for ${}^{192}$At is discussed.

By using the technique of correlating implanted evaporation residues and their subsequent fission decay, $\ensuremath{\beta}$-delayed fission ($\ensuremath{\beta}$DF) of ${}^{186}$Bi has been identified for the first time and $\ensuremath{\beta}$DF of ${}^{188}$Bi has been unambiguously confirmed. The experiments were performed at the velocity filter SHIP (GSI, Darmstadt). The $\ensuremath{\beta}$DF probabilities for both nuclides were qualitatively estimated, and, in particular indications for a large value in the case of ${}^{186}$Bi are regarded.

The one-neutron removal cross sections of neutron-rich Al isotopes and longitudinal momentum distributions of the residues have been measured for A=33 to 36 at relativistic energies (≈900 MeV/u). The inclusive data have been interpreted within the eikonal approximation. The evolution of the single-particle occupancy in the ground state of 33,34,35Al has been studied and compared with shell model predictions. The inferred 2s1/2 neutron occupancy in the 33Al ground-state wave function is 20% to 40% lower than the predicted one. The inclusive data do not exclude the presence of intruder states. Some intruder l=1 occupancy is found in 34Al, similarly to 33Mg. The single-particle 1f7/2 occupancy shows a gradual increase at N=22. Correspondingly, a decrease of the 1d3/2 strength has been observed.

New measurements of the interaction cross sections of 22,23O at 900A MeV performed at the GSI, Darmstadt are reported that address the unsolved puzzle of the large cross section previously observed for 23O. The matter radii for these oxygen isotopes extracted through a Glauber model analysis are in good agreement with the new predictions of the ab initio coupled-cluster theory reported here. They are consistent with a 22O+neutron description of 23O as well., Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures

Experiments with the new recoil separator, Transactinide Separator and Chemistry Apparatus (TASCA), at the GSI were performed by using beams of Ca-48 to irradiate targets of Pb206-208, which led to the production of No252-254 isotopes. These studies allowed for evaluation of the performance of TASCA when coupled to a new detector and electronics system. By following these studies, the isotopes of element 114 ((288-291)114) were produced in irradiations of Pu-244 targets with Ca-48 beams at compound nucleus excitation energies around 41.7 and 37.5 MeV, demonstrating TASCA's ability to perform experiments with picobarn-level cross sections. A total of 15 decay chains were observed and were assigned to the decay of 288-291114. A new a-decay branch in (281)Ds was observed, leading to the new nucleus (277)Hs. (Less)

The interaction cross sections of Mg32-35 at 900A MeV have been measurmed using the fragment separator at GSI. The deviation from the r(0)A(1/3) trend is slightly larger for Mg-35, signaling the possible formation of a longer tail in the neutron distribution for Mg-35. The radii extracted from a Glauber model analysis with Fermi densities are consistent with models predicting the development of neutron skins.

The synthesis of isotopes of the element hassium was studied using the reaction {sup 34}S+{sup 238}U{yields}{sup 272}Hs{sup *}. At a kinetic energy of 163.0 MeV in the center-of-mass system we observed one {alpha}-decay chain starting at the isotope {sup 267}Hs. The cross section was 1.8{sub -1.5}{sup +4.2} pb. At 152.0 MeV one decay of the new isotope {sup 268}Hs was observed. It decays with a half-life of 0.38{sub -0.17}{sup +1.8} s by 9479{+-}16 keV {alpha}-particle emission. Spontaneous fission of the daughter nucleus {sup 264}Sg was confirmed. The measured cross section was 0.54{sub -0.45}{sup +1.3} pb. In-beam measurements of fission-fragment mass distributions were performed to obtain information on the fusion probability at various orientations of the deformed target nucleus. The distributions changed from symmetry to asymmetry when the beam energy was changed from above-barrier to sub-barrier values, indicating orientation effects on fusion and/or quasifission. It was found that the distribution of symmetric mass fragments originates not only from fusion-fission, but has a strong component from quasifission. The result was supported by a calculation based on a dynamical description using the Langevin equation, in which the mass distributions for fusion-fission and quasifission fragments were separately determined.

The deformed doubly magic nucleus (270)Hs has so far only been observed as the four-neutron (4n) evaporation residue of the reaction Mg-26+Cm-248, where a maximum cross section of 3 pb was measured. Theoretical studies on the formation of (270)Hs in the 4n evaporation channel of fusion reactions with different entrance channel asymmetry in the framework of a two-parameter Smoluchowski equation predict that the reactions Ca-48+Ra-226 and S-36+U-238 result in higher cross sections due to lower reaction Q values, in contrast to simple arguments based on the reaction asymmetry, which predict opposite trends. Calculations using HIVAP predict cross sections for the reaction S-36+U-238 that are similar to those of the Mg-26+Cm-248 reaction. Here, we report on the first measurement of evaporation residues formed in the complete nuclear fusion reaction S-36+U-238 and the observation of (270)Hs, which is produced in the 4n evaporation channel, with a measured cross section of 0.8(-0.7)(+2.6) pb at 51-MeV excitation energy. The one-event cross-section limits (68% confidence level) for the 3n, 4n, and 5n evaporation channels at 39-MeV excitation energy are 2.9 pb, while the cross-section limits of the 3n and 5n channel at 51 MeV are 1.5 pb. This is significantly lower than the 5n cross section of the Mg-26+Cm-248 reaction at similar excitation energy.

A detailed $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-decay study of the neutron-deficient isotope $^{181}\mathrm{Pb}$ has been performed in the complete fusion reaction $^{40}\mathrm{Ca}$$+$$^{144}\mathrm{Sm}$$\ensuremath{\rightarrow}$$^{184}\mathrm{Pb}$${}^{*}$ at the velocity filter SHIP (GSI, Darmstadt). In comparison with the literature, more precise data have been deduced for the ${I}^{\ensuremath{\pi}}=(9/{2}^{\ensuremath{-}})$ ground state in this nucleus, which is presumably based on the neutron $\ensuremath{\nu}{h}_{9/2}$ spherical orbital. Improved $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-decay data were also measured for $^{180}\mathrm{Pb}$.

A new isomer with a half-life of $0.48(2)$ ms was identified in the nuclide $^{181}\mathrm{Hg}$, which was produced in the complete fusion reaction $^{40}\mathrm{Ca}+^{144}\mathrm{Sm}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}^{184}\mathrm{Pb}$${}^{*}$ at the velocity filter SHIP (GSI, Darmstadt). The isomeric state was tentatively assigned a spin-parity of $13/{2}^{+}$. We propose that this isomer de-excites by a yet unobserved low-energy, strongly converted $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray transition, followed by a newly identified cascade composed of a $90.3$ keV $M1$ and a $71.4$ keV $E2$ $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray transition.

A detailed spectroscopic study of the neutron-deficient isotope $^{181}\mathrm{Tl}$ and the daughter of its $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ decay, $^{177}\mathrm{Au}$, has been performed in the complete fusion reaction $^{40}\mathrm{Ca}+^{144}\mathrm{Sm}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}^{184}\mathrm{Pb}{}^{*}$ at the velocity filter SHIP (GSI). The mass excess, excitation energy, and decay scheme of the isomeric 1.40(3) ms, $9/{2}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ intruder state in $^{181}\mathrm{Tl}$ have been established for the first time. These results solve a long-standing puzzle of the unrealistically large reduced $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-decay width of this isomer. Based on this, the previously unknown masses of the long-lived isomeric states in $^{177}\mathrm{Au}$ and $^{173}\mathrm{Ir}$ have been derived. In turn, it now allows the excitation energies of previously identified bands in $^{177}\mathrm{Au}$ and $^{173}\mathrm{Ir}$ to be deduced and compared with theoretical predictions. First measurements of $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-decay branching ratios for $^{181}\mathrm{Tl}{}^{m}$ and $^{177}\mathrm{Au}{}^{m,g}$ are also reported.

Detailed {alpha}-decay studies of the neutron-deficient isotope {sup 194}At have been performed in the complete fusion reaction {sup 56}Fe+{sup 141}Pr{yields}{sup 194}At+3n at the velocity filter SHIP. Two {alpha}-decaying isomeric states with half-lives of T{sub 1/2}({sup 194}At{sup m1})=310(8) ms and T{sub 1/2}({sup 194}At{sup m2})=253(10) ms were identified in this nucleus. Their complex decays to the states in the daughter nucleus {sup 190}Bi are discussed in the article. We propose that similar to the case of the neighboring {sup 191,192,193,195}At isotopes, the oblate-deformed configurations based on the proton 1/2{sup +}[440] and/or 7/2{sup -}[514] Nilsson orbitals become important in {sup 194}At. A new isomeric state with the half-life of 175(8) ns was observed in {sup 190}Bi.

The new neutron-deficient isotopes Rn-193,Rn-194 have been identified in the complete fusion reaction Cr-52+Sm-144 -> Rn-196(*) at the velocity filter SHIP. The alpha-decay energy and half-life value of Rn-194 were determined to be E-alpha=7700(10) keV and T-1/2=0.78(16) ms, respectively. For Rn-193 the half-life of T-1/2=1.15(27) ms and two alpha lines at E-alpha 1=7685(15) keV, I-alpha 1=74(20)% and E-alpha 2=7875(20) keV, I-alpha 2=26(12)% were found. The decay pattern of Rn-193, which is substantially different from that of the heavier odd-A Rn isotopes, provides first experimental evidence for the long-predicted deformation in the very neutron-deficient Rn nuclei.

The new neutron-deficient isotope $^{187}\mathrm{Po}$ has been identified in the complete fusion reaction $^{46}\mathrm{Ti}$+$^{144}\mathrm{Sm}$\ensuremath{\rightarrow}$^{187}\mathrm{Po}$+$3n$ at the velocity filter SHIP. Striking features of the $^{187}\mathrm{Po}$ \ensuremath{\alpha} decay are the strongly-hindered decay to the spherical ground state and unhindered decay to a surprisingly low-lying deformed excited state at 286 keV in the daughter nucleus $^{183}\mathrm{Pb}$. Based on the potential energy surface calculations, the $^{187}\mathrm{Po}$ ground state and the 286 keV excited state in $^{183}\mathrm{Pb}$ were interpreted as being of prolate origin. The systematic deviation of the \ensuremath{\alpha}-decay properties in the lightest odd-A Po isotopes relative to the smooth behavior in the even-A neighbors is discussed. Improved data for the decay of ${}^{187}{\mathrm{Bi}}^{m,g}$ were also obtained.

Decay properties of the new neutron-deficient nuclide $^{192}\mathrm{At}$ have been studied in the complete fusion reaction $^{144}\mathrm{Sm}$($^{51}\mathrm{V}$,3n)$^{192}\mathrm{At}$ at the velocity filter SHIP. Two isomeric states with half-lives of 88(6) ms and 11.5(6) ms, respectively, and with complex $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-decay schemes were identified in $^{192}\mathrm{At}$. The decay pattern of one of the isomers suggests that it is based on the oblate-deformed $\ensuremath{\pi}2{f}_{7/2}\ensuremath{\bigotimes}\ensuremath{\nu}1{i}_{13/2}$ configuration, which confirms the expected onset of deformation in the At isotopes by approaching the neutron midshell at $N=104$.

The production of the very neutron-deficient nuclides $^{184\ensuremath{-}192}\mathrm{Bi}$ and $^{186\ensuremath{-}192}\mathrm{Po}$ in the vicinity of the neutron midshell at N = 104 has been studied by using heavy-ion-induced complete fusion reactions in a series of experiments at the velocity filter SHIP. The cross sections for the xn and pxn evaporation channels of the $^{46}\mathrm{Ti}$+$^{144}\mathrm{Sm}$$\ensuremath{\rightarrow}^{190}\mathrm{Po}{}^{*},$$^{98}\mathrm{Mo}$+$^{92}\mathrm{Mo}$$\ensuremath{\rightarrow}^{190}\mathrm{Po}{}^{*},$$^{50,52}\mathrm{Cr}$+$^{142}\mathrm{Nd}$$\ensuremath{\rightarrow}^{192,194}\mathrm{Po}{}^{*}$, and $^{94,95}\mathrm{Mo}$+$^{93}\mathrm{Nb}$$\ensuremath{\rightarrow}^{187,188}\mathrm{Bi}{}^{*}$ reactions were measured. The results obtained, together with the previously known cross section data for the heavier Bi and Po nuclides, are compared with the results of statistical model calculations carried out with the HIVAP code. It is shown that a satisfactory description of the experimental data requires a significant (up to 35%) reduction of the theoretical fission barriers. The optimal reactions for production of the lightest Bi and Po isotopes are discussed.