[en] Rotational bands based on very long-lived K-isomers in the stable hafnium isotopes ^177,178,179Hf have been studied with time-correlated particle-γ-γ techniques. Some physics highlights, and future possibiblities, will be discussed

[en] The ⁸⁶Kr+²³⁸U reaction has been studied at krypton beam energies about 30 MeV above the Coulomb barrier. Reaction products were detected by an array of 32 photovoltaic cells coupled to the AFRODITE γ-ray detector array at iThemba LABS. A symmetric fission component has been observed at about 600 MeV total kinetic energy. This could possibly be due to fusion-fission with a cross section of 35±20 mb

[en] Gamma rays with energies up to 21 MeV were measured with Ge detectors. Such γ rays were produced in the 208Pb(p,γ)209Bi reaction. The position of the 2g9/2 single proton orbit in 209Bi has been determined indicating the size of the Z=126 shell gap

No abstract available

[en] In intermediate-mass systems, collective excitations of the target and projectile can greatly enhance the subbarrier capture cross section σ_cap by giving rise to a distribution of Coulomb barriers. For such systems, capture essentially leads directly to fusion [formation of a compound nucleus (CN)], which then decays through the emission of light particles (neutrons, protons, and alpha particles). Thus, the evaporation-residue (ER) cross section is essentially equal to σ_cap. For heavier systems, the experimental situation is significantly more complicated owing to the presence of quasifission (QF) (rapid separation into two fragments before the CN is formed) and by fusion-fission (FF) of the CN itself. Thus, three cross sections need to be measured in order to evaluate σ_cap. Although the ER essentially recoil along the beam direction, QF and FF fragments are scattered to all angles and require the measurement of angular distributions in order to obtain the excitation function and barrier distribution for capture. Two other approaches to this problem exist. If QF is not important, one can still measure just the ER cross section and try to reconstruct the corresponding σ_cap through use of an evaporation-model code that takes account of the FF degree of freedom. Some earlier results on σ_cap obtained in this way will be reanalyzed with detailed coupled-channels calculations, and the 'extra-push' phenomenon discussed. One may also try to obtain σ_cap by exploiting unitarity, that is, by measuring instead the flux of particles corresponding to quasielastic (QE) scattering from the Coulomb barrier. Some new QE results obtained for the ⁸⁶Kr + ²⁰⁸Pb system at iThemba LABS in South Africa will be presented

[en] Negative-parity bands in the vicinity of ¹⁵⁶Gd and ¹⁶⁰Yb have been suggested as candidates for the rotation of tetrahedral nuclei. We report the observation of the odd and even-spin members of the lowest energy negative-parity bands in ¹⁶⁰Yb and ¹⁵⁴Gd. The properties of these bands are similar to the proposed tetrahedral band of ¹⁵⁶Gd and its even-spin partner. Band-mixing calculations are performed and absolute and relative quadrupole moments deduced for ¹⁶⁰Yb and ¹⁵⁴Gd. The values are inconsistent with zero, as required for tetrahedral shape, and the bands are interpreted as octupole vibrational bands. The failure to observe the in-band E2 transitions of the bands at low spins can be understood using the measured B(E1) and B(E2) values.

[en] A complete kinematic measurement of the ⁶Li(³He,³H)αpp reaction is performed at E_lab=50 MeV, to investigate the cluster structure of ⁶Be. The energy and angular distributions of the breakup particles, emitted from the ground and first excited states of ⁶Be, are compared to three-body resonance and two-body sequential decay calculations. The results indicate a rather pure three-body configuration of the 2⁺ state of ⁶Be but they are not conclusive regarding the decay mode of the 0⁺ state. No branching ratio between sequential and three-body decay paths could be extracted. Excitations above the 2⁺ state were populated at E_x=1.67-23 MeV. Decay through ⁵Li-p and ²He-⁴He channels is identified in the continuum of ⁶Be, and the reaction mechanism is discussed.

[en] When a left-handed and a right-handed nuclear system form in angular momentum space, a pair of nearly degenerate rotational bands is observed. To identify chiral symmetry most important is to establish near-degeneracy not only in excitation energies of the partner bands, but also in their intra-band and inter-band B(M1) and B(E2) transition probabilities. This needs dedicated lifetime measurements. Such measurements were performed for four bands of "1"9"4Tl. Two of these have very close near-degeneracy and form a prime candidate for best chiral pair. The lifetime measurements confirm the excellent near-degeneracy in this chiral pair. (paper)

[en] A search for isomeric states was performed in the nucleus 60140Nd80 using in-beam γ-ray spectroscopy and the 126Te(18O,4n) reaction. Prompt and delayed γ-ray coincidences were measured with the AFRODITE spectrometer using the pulsed beam delivered by the Separated Sector Cyclotron of iThemba LABS. One new isomer was identified, with spin-parity Iπ=20+ and lifetime T1/2≥400 ns, at an excitation energy Ex=7430 keV. The lifetime of the 10+ isomer at Ex=3619 keV was determined to be 32.9(1.8) ns, confirming the previously reported value. The configuration of the Iπ=20+ isomer is assigned based on configuration-dependent cranked Nilsson-Strutinsky (CNS) calculations as a state π(d5/2g7/2)10+-4xν(h11/2-2)10+, with the spin vectors of the six holes in the 64146Gd82 core fully aligned

[en] High spin states in ¹⁹⁶Hg have been populated in the ¹⁹⁸Pt(α,6n) reaction at 65 MeV and the level scheme has been extended. A new dipole band has been observed and a previously observed dipole has been confirmed. Excitation energies, spins and parities of these bands were determined from DCO ratio and linear polarization measurements. Possible quasiparticle excitations responsible for these structures are discussed.