Low-lying Level Structure of $^{150}$Nd

ORAL

Abstract

To address the issue of whether the $^{150}$Nd nucleus represents an example of a phase transition in the shape degree of freedom or a complex example of shape coexistence, its level structure, up to about 2 MeV excitation and 6$\hbar$, has been explored via the ($n,n'\gamma$) reaction at the University of Kentucky accelerator facility. Level lifetimes, in the sub-picosecond regime, were extracted with a Doppler-shift attenuation analysis. A significant extension of the level scheme was possible, and the observed low-lying level structure of $^{150}$Nd indicates a close resemblance to its neighboring $^{152}$Sm isotone. Results from the ongoing analysis will be presented.

*This material is based on work supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation under Grant No. PHY-0956310.

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Authors

  • A. Chakraborty

    • Departments of Chemistry and Physics and Astronomy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506-0055
    • Departments of Chemistry and Physics \& Astronomy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506
    • Depts. of Physics \& Astronomy and Chemistry, University of Kentucky, USA

  • F.M. Prados-Est\'{e}vez

    • Depts. of Physics \& Astronomy and Chemistry, University of Kentucky, USA

  • S.W. Yates

    • Depts. of Physics \& Astronomy and Chemistry, University of Kentucky, USA

  • S.N. Choudry

    • Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, University of Kentucky, USA

  • B.P. Crider

    • Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, University of Kentucky, USA

  • A. Kumar

    • Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, University of Kentucky, USA

  • M.T. McEllistrem

    • Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, University of Kentucky, USA

  • S. Mukhopadhyay

    • Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, University of Kentucky, USA

  • J.N. Orce

    • Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, University of Kentucky, USA

  • M.G. Mynk

    • Dept. of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, USA

  • E.E. Peters

    • Dept. of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, USA

  • P.E. Garrett

    • Dept. of Physics, University of Guelph, Canada

  • W.D. Kulp

    • School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology, USA

  • J.L. Wood

    • School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology, USA