Investigating the nature of excited 0$^+$ states populated in the $^{162}Er$(p,t) reaction

A continuing challenge in nuclear structure physics is the determination of the nature of low-lying excited 0$^+$ states. Various approaches have been implemented to interpret the occurence of these states, such as vibrational excitations in $\beta$ and $\gamma$ phonons or pairing excitations. One of the difficulties, however, in resolving the nature of these states is that there is a paucity of data, particularly for the excited $0^+$ states. Two-neutron transfer reactions are ideal for probing $0^{+}$$\rightarrow$ $0^{+}$ transitions in deformed nuclei. Excited $0^+$ states in $^{160}$Er have been studied via the ($p,t$) reaction at the Maier-Leibnitz Laboratory in Garching, Germany. Reaction products were momentum-analyzed with a Q3D magnetic spectrograph. The variance in the cross section of these low-lying excited $0^+$ states suggests a special character for the 0$^+_2$ state. Final results of the relative population of the excited 0$^+$ states will be presented.