Search

High-spin states in Cs124 were populated in the Ni64(Ni64,p3n) reaction and the Gammasphere detector array was used to measure γ-ray coincidences. Both positive- and negative-parity bands, including bands with chiral configurations, have been extended to higher spin, where a shape change has been observed. The configurations of the bands before and after the alignment are discussed within the framework of the cranked Nilsson-Strutinsky model. The calculations suggest that the nucleus undergoes a shape transition from triaxial to prolate around spin I≃22 of the positive-parity states. The alignment gain of 8â.,, observed in the positive-parity bands, is due to partial alignment of several valence nucleons. This indicates the absence of band crossing due to paired nucleons in the bands.

High-spin states in Xe124 have been populated using the Se80(Ca48,4n) reaction at a beam energy of 207 MeV and high-multiplicity, γ-ray coincidence events were measured using the Gammasphere spectrometer. Six high-spin bands with large moments of inertia, similar to those observed in neighboring nuclei, have been observed. The experimental results are compared with calculations within the framework of the cranked Nilsson-Strutinsky model. It is suggested that the configurations of the bands involve excitations of protons across the Z=50 shell gap coupled to neutrons within the N=50-82 shell or excited across the N=82 shell closure.

Excited states in Lu167 were populated in the Sb123(Ca48,4n) reaction at 203 MeV and decay γ rays measured using the Gammasphere spectrometer array. Two triaxial strongly deformed bands were identified previously and interpreted as zero- and one-phonon wobbling excitations. As a result of more extensive band search, the level scheme has been considerably extended to include ten new rotational bands and some 630γ-ray transitions. A number of interband linking transitions were revealed, so that all but two bands could be connected with each other. Configurations are proposed for all new bands based on measured observables, with the help of cranked shell model calculations. A γ-ray sequence, previously suggested as a triaxial strongly deformed band based on quasiparticle excitations coexisting with the wobbling excitation in the triaxial potential well, has now been determined to be a signature partner of a coupled band, associated with a normal deformed five-quasiparticle configuration. The possibility of two new bands being associated with triaxial deformation is discussed.

The Euroball-IV γ-detector array, equipped with the ancillary charged particle detector array DIAMANT was used to study the residues of the fusion reaction 64Ni ⇒ 128Ba at Ebeam = 255 and 261 MeV, in an attempt to reach the highest anguar momentum and verify the existence of predicted hyperdeformed rotational bands. No discrete hyperdeformed bands were identified, but nevertheless a breakthrough was obtained a systematic search for rotational ridge structure with very large moments of inertia J (2) ≥ 100 ℏ2 MeV(-1), in agreement with theoretical predictions for hyperdeformed shapes. Evidence for hyperdeformiation was obtained by charged particle + γ-ray gating, selectiong triple correlated ridge structures in the continuum of each of the nuclei, 118Te, 124Xe and 124,125Cs. In 7 additional nuclei, rotational ridges were also identified with J(2) = 71-77ℏ2Mev(-1), which most probably correspond to surperdeformed shape. The angular distributions of the emitted charged particles show an excess in forward direction over expectations from pure compound evaporation, which may indicate that in-complete fusion plays an important role in the population of very elongated shapes.

The level structure of 60140Nd80 has been established up to spin 48 by in-beam γ-ray spectroscopy by use of the Zr96(Ca48, 4n) reaction. High-fold γ-ray coincidences were measured with the EUROBALL spectrometer. Twelve new rotational bands have been discovered at high spins. They are interpreted as being formed in a deep triaxial minimum at 2 0.25 and γ 35°. Possible configurations are assigned to the observed bands on the basis of configuration-dependent cranked Nilsson-Strutinsky calculations. © 2005 The American Physical Society.

In recent attempts to search for exotic shapes, hyperdeformation (HD), and Jacobi transitions in Hf, Ba, Xe, Sn and Nd nuclei, ridge structures presumably originating from nuclei of very elongated shapes have been observed in 126Ba, with Gammasphere (GS) and in 126Xe, with Euroball-IV (EB-IV). After the promising results from GS, a second experiment in 126Ba followed at EB-IV, taking advantage of the use of the BGO Inner Ball (IB) for selecting the highest spins. The decay of the Giant Dipole Resonances (GDR) is also studied, and the analysis in progress. The Quasi-continuum transitions in the Jacobi region, show a significant decrease in energy for both 126Ba and 126Xe, compared to the Thomas-Fermi- and the LSD model predictions. Similar effects were recently found for other nuclei by Ward et al.

The next generation of 4π arrays for high-precision γ-ray spectroscopy AGATA will consist of γ-ray tracking detectors. They represent high-fold segmented Ge detectors and a front-end electronics, based on digital signal processing techniques, which allows to extract energy, timing and spatial information on the interactions of a γ-ray in the Ge detector by pulse shape analysis of its signals. Utilizing the information on the positions of the interaction points and the energies released at each point the tracks of the γ-rays in a Ge shell can be reconstructed in three dimensions on the basis of the Compton-scattering formula.