High-spin states with seniority v = 4,5, and 6 in119-126Sn.

The 119_126Sn nuclei have been produced as fission fragments in two reactions induced by heavy ions: 12C + 238U at a bombarding energy of 90 MeV and 18O + 208Pb at 85 MeV. Their level schemes have been built from γ rays detected using the Euroball array. High-spin states located above the long-lived isomeric states of the evenand odd-A 120-126Sn nuclei have been identified. Moreover, isomeric states lying around 4.5 MeV have been established in 120,122,124,126Sn from delayed coincidences between the fission fragment detector SAPhIR and the Euroball array. The states located above 3 MeV excitation energy are ascribed to several broken pairs of neutrons occupying the vh11/2 orbit. The maximum value of angular momentum available in such a high-j shell, i.e., for midoccupation and the breaking of the three neutron pairs, has been identified. This process is observed for the first time in spherical nuclei. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]