Multitude of2+discrete states inSn124observed via the(O17,O′17γ)reaction: Evidence for pygmy quadrupole states

A multitude of discrete ${2}^{+}$ states in $^{124}\text{Sn}$ with energy up to 5 MeV were populated and identified with the $(^{17}\text{O}$, $^{17}\mathrm{O}^{\ensuremath{'}}\ensuremath{\gamma})$ reaction at 340 MeV. Cross sections were compared with distorted wave Born approximation predictions and in general a good agreement was found. The measured energy and intensity distributions of the ${2}^{+}$ states are very similar to the predictions based on self-consistent density functional theory and extended QRPA approach accounting for multiphonon degrees of freedom. This provides evidence of the excitation of the pygmy quadrupole resonance in skin nuclei.