Observation of Excited States in the Near-Drip-Line Nucleus 125 Pr

Abstract

High-spin states have been observed in the near-drip-line nucleus 125Pr following the reaction 64Zn(64Zn,p2n). The detection of charged particles and neutrons evaporated from the compound system, along with the M/q of the recoiling nucleus, have allowed the identification of excited states in 125Pr and the unambiguous assignment of five rotational structures to this nucleus. This is the most neutron-deficient Pr isotope in which excited states have been observed. The strongest band is identified as the h11/2 single-quasiproton configuration, and is observed to a maximum spin of I = (67/2hℏ). Another structure is interpreted as the g9/2 proton hole state, which is associated with bands of enhanced deformation observed in several nuclei in this mass region. These two bands are compared with analogous bands in the heavier odd-A Pr isotopes and changes in deformation are discussed. Show more