Abstract: A beta-gamma spectroscopy of the J(pi) = 1(+), 426 keV isomeric state of Al-24 ( Al-24m) has been carried out by using a Al-24 secondary beam with high purity and high isomeric ratio. From the absolute gamma-ray and beta-particle intensities observed in the decay of the isomeric state, the branching ratio R-B of the isomeric gamma-decay from Al-24m to the J(pi) = 4(+), ground state of Al-24 have been derived. The obtained R-B value of 69.6(7)% is much smaller than the previously accepted value of 82.5(30)%. The precise half-life for the isomer decay, T-1/2(m) = 130.9(13) ms, has been also determined in this experiment. Accordingly, the M3 gamma-decay strength B(M3) of the Al-24m decay becomes smaller and the total beta-decay branching ratio becomes larger. In particular, the beta-decay branching ratio to the ground state of Mg-24 becomes 24.3(9)%, which is 2.4 times larger than the previous value of 10.1(28)%. By combining the branching ratio and the half-life, the Gamow-Teller (GT) transition strength B(GT) of 0.0194(7) is deduced for the GT transition from Al-24m to the J(pi) = 0(+), ground state of Mg-24. This value is in good agreement with the values derived from charge-exchange reactions.

Abstract: The low-spin structure of the nearly spherical nucleus Gd-146 was studied using the Sm-144(He-4, 2n) fusion-evaporation reaction. High-statistics gamma-gamma coincidence measurements were performed at iThemba LABS with 7x10(9) gamma-gamma coincidence events recorded. Gated gamma-ray energy spectra show evidence for the 6(2)(+) -> 3(1)(-) -> 0(1)(+) cascade of E3 transitions in agreement with recent findings by Caballero and co-workers, but with a smaller branching ratio of I-gamma = 4.7(10) for the 6(2)(+) -> 3(1)(-) 1905.1 keV gamma ray. Although these findings may support octupole vibrations in spherical nuclei, sophisticated beyond mean-field calculations including angular-momentum projection are required to interpret in an appropriate way the available data due to the failure of the rotational model assumptions in this nucleus.

Abstract: The N = Z = 36 nucleus Kr-72 has been studied by inelastic scattering at intermediate energies. Two targets, Be-9 and Au-197, were used to extract the nuclear deformation length, delta(N), and the reduced E2 transition probability, B(E2). The previously unknown non-yrast 2(+) and 4(+) states as well as a new candidate for the octupole 3(-) state have been observed in the scattering on the Be target and placed in the level scheme based on gamma – gamma coincidences. The second 2(+) state was also observed in the scattering on the Au target and the B(E2; 2(2)(+) -> 0(1)(+)) value could be determined for the first time. Analyzing the results in terms of a two-band mixing model shows clear evidence for a oblate-prolate shape coexistence and can be explained by a shape change from an oblate ground state to prolate deformed yrast band from the first 2+ state. This interpretation is corroborated by beyond mean field calculations using the Gogny D1S interaction.