Deviations from the Alaga rules in deformed Hf nuclei

Branching ratios from excited $K$ = 0,2 states in axially symmetric deformed nuclei can usually be described, in first order, using the Alaga rules. Some well-deformed nuclei, however, show significant deviations from the Alaga rules particulary when the first excited $K$ = 0 and 2 excitations are similar in energy. To further investigate this behavior, an experiment was performed to measure intensities from excited $K$ = 0,2 states in $^{172}$Hf. Low-lying non-yrast states of $^ {172}$Hf were populated in $\beta$ decay and studied through off-beam $\gamma$ ray spectroscopy. The $^{172}$Ta parent nuclei were produced through the $^{165}$Ho($^{12}$C, 5$n$) reaction. Results will be presented and compared to the systematics of the region. Work supported by U.S. DOE Grant No. DE-FG02-91ER-40609.