Abstract: Lifetimes of low-lying excited states of the neutron-rich Ar-44,Ar-46 nuclei, populated via multinucleon transfer reactions, are measured by means of the differential recoil distance Doppler shift method. The extracted electromagnetic transition probabilities are compared with previous intermediate-energy Coulomb-excitation measurements and with large-scale shell-model calculations. The increase in the deduced B( E2; 2(+) -> 0(+)) transition probability from Ar-44 to the closed-shell nucleus Ar-46 contradicts the earlier results of Coulomb-excitation experiments. Shell-model calculations using different effective interactions agree with the new measured values.

Abstract: The shape transition in the neutron-rich Os isotopes is studied by investigating the neutron-rich Os-196 nucleus through in-beam gamma-ray spectroscopy using a two-proton transfer reaction from a Pt-198 target to a Se-82 beam. The beam-like recoils were detected and identified with the large-acceptance magnetic spectrometer PRISMA, and the coincident gamma rays were measured with the advanced gamma tracking array (AGATA) demonstrator. The de-excitation of the low-lying levels of the yrast-band of Os-196 were identified for the first time. The results are compared with state-of-the-art beyond-mean-field calculations, performed for the even-even Os188-198 isotopes. The new results suggest a smooth transition in the Os isotopes from a more axial rotational behavior towards predominately vibrational nuclei through triaxial configurations. An almost perfect gamma-unstable/triaxial rotor yrast band is predicted for Os-196 which is in agreement with the experimentally measured excited states.

Abstract: Background: Multinucleon transfer reactions (MNT) are a competitive tool to populate exotic neutron-rich nuclei in a wide region of nuclei, where other production methods have severe limitations or cannot be used at all. Purpose: Experimental information on the yields of MNT reactions in comparison with theoretical calculations are necessary to make predictions for the production of neutron-rich heavy nuclei. It is crucial to determine the fraction of MNT reaction products which are surviving neutron emission or fission at the high excitation energy after the nucleon exchange. Method: Multinucleon transfer reactions in Xe-136 + U-238 have been measured in a high-resolution gamma-ray/particle coincidence experiment. The large solid-angle magnetic spectrometer PRISMA coupled to the high-resolution Advanced Gamma Tracking Array (AGATA) has been employed. Beamlike reaction products after multinucleon transfer in the Xe region were identified and selected with the PRISMA spectrometer. Coincident particles were tagged by multichannel plate detectors placed at the grazing angle of the targetlike recoils inside the scattering chamber. Results: Mass yields have been extracted and compared with calculations based on the GRAZING model for MNT reactions. Kinematic coincidences between the binary reaction products, i.e., beamlike and targetlike nuclei, were exploited to obtain population yields for nuclei in the actinide region and compared to x-ray yields measured by AGATA. Conclusions: No sizable yield of actinide nuclei beyond Z = 93 is found to perform nuclear structure investigations. In-beam gamma-ray spectroscopy is feasible for few-neutron transfer channels in U and the -2p channel populating Th isotopes.

Abstract: Lifetimes of the 4(1)(+) states in Fe-62,Fe-64 and the 11/2(1)(-) states in Co-61,Co-63 and Mn-59 were measured at the Grand Accelerateur National d'Ions Lourds (GANIL) facility by using the Advanced Gamma Tracking Array (AGATA) and the large-acceptance variable mode spectrometer (VAMOS++). The states were populated through multinucleon transfer reactions with a U-238 beam impinging on a Ni-64 target, and lifetimes in the picosecond range were measured by using the recoil distance Doppler shift method. The data show an increase of collectivity in the iron isotopes approaching N = 40. The reduction of the subshell gap between the nu 2p(1/2) and nu 1g(9/2) orbitals leads to an increased population of the quasi-SU(3) pair (nu 1g(9/2), nu 2d(5/2)), which causes an increase in quadrupole collectivity. This is not observed for the cobalt isotopes withN < 40 for which the neutron subshell gap is larger due to the repulsive monopole component of the tensor nucleon-nucleon interaction. The extracted experimental B(E2) values are compared with large-scale shell-model calculations and with beyond-mean-field calculations with the Gogny D1S interaction. A good agreement between calculations and experimental values is found, and the results demonstrate in particular the spectroscopic quality of the Lenzi, Nowacki, Poves, and Sieja (LNPS) shell-model interaction.

Abstract: The transitional nuclei Xe-132 and Xe-133 are investigated after multinucleon-transfer (MNT) and fusionevaporation reactions. Both nuclei are populated (i) in Xe-136 + 2(08P)b MNT reactions employing the highresolution Advanced GAmma Tracking Array (AGATA) coupled to the magnetic spectrometer PRISMA, (ii) in the Xe-136 + Pt-198 MNT reaction employing the GAMMASPHERE spectrometer in combination with the gas-detector array CHICO, and (iii) as an evaporation residue after a Te-130(alpha, xn) Xe134-xn fusion-evaporation reaction employing the HORUS gamma-ray array at the University of Cologne. The high-spin level schemes are considerably extended above the J(pi) = (7(-)) and (10+) isomers in Xe-132 and above the 11/2(-) isomer in Xe-133. The results are compared to the high-spin systematics of the Z = 54 as well as the N = 78 and N = 79 chains. Furthermore, evidence is found for a long-lived (T-1/2 >> μs) isomer in Xe-133 which closes a gap along the N = isotones. Shell-model calculations employing the SN100PN and PQM130 effective interactions reproduce the experimental findings and provide guidance to the interpretation of the observed high-spin features.