The β decay of ${}^{73}\mathrm{Cu}$ to levels in ${}^{73}\mathrm{Zn}$ has been studied. The ${}^{73}\mathrm{Cu}$ nuclides were produced by fragmentation of ${}^{76}\mathrm{Ge}$ projectiles having energies of 70 MeV/nucleon in a $202{\mathrm{m}\mathrm{g}/\mathrm{c}\mathrm{m}}^2$ thick ${}^9\mathrm{Be}$ target. β and γ singles, β-γ and γ-γ coincidence data were collected and used to construct the low-energy level scheme of ${}^{73}\mathrm{Zn}.$ New spin-parity assignments have been deduced for some excited states in ${}^{73}\mathrm{Zn}$ based on measured β decay branching ratios and systematics of other $N=43\mathrm{}$ isotones. A 195-keV transition was identified in ${}^{73}\mathrm{Zn}$ with a half-life of 13.0(2) ms, a value several orders of magnitude shorter than previously reported, and is consistent with an $M2\mathrm{}$ multipolarity. The low-energy level structure of ${}^{73}\mathrm{Zn}$ is shown to be consistent with particle-triaxial rotor model calculations employing a ground state quadrupole deformation with ${\beta }_2=\mathrm{0.2.}\mathrm{}$

The antiprotonic x-ray cascade in ${}^{172}\mathrm{Yb}$ and ${}^{176}\mathrm{Yb}$ was studied and the widths and shifts of the levels which are affected by the strong interaction were deduced. A large number of transitions up to $\Delta n=5\mathrm{}$ could be observed. This opened the possibility to determine for the first time also the widths of noncircular orbits. In ${}^{172}\mathrm{Yb}$ and ${}^{176}\mathrm{Yb}$ four level shifts and seven level widths were measured in each case. The widths are slightly increasing from ${}^{172}\mathrm{Yb}$ to ${}^{176}\mathrm{Yb}$ whereas the shifts stay roughly constant. The experimental intensities of the transitions are compared with results from calculations of the antiproton cascade. Using a Fermi distribution for the nucleon densities the neutron diffuseness parameter was deduced to be for ${}^{172}\mathrm{Yb}\hspace{0.5em}(0.58\mathrm{}\pm 0.04)\hspace{0.5em}\mathrm{fm}$ larger than the proton diffuseness parameter. For ${}^{176}\mathrm{Yb}$ this value is $(0.71\mathrm{}\pm 0.04)\hspace{0.5em}\mathrm{fm}.$

The coincidence cross section and the interference structure function, $R_{\mathrm{LT}},$ were measured for the ${}^{12}\mathrm{C}{(e,e}^{\prime }p){}^{11}\mathrm{B}$ reaction at quasielastic kinematics and central momentum transfer of $|\overrightarrow{q}|=400\mathrm{}\mathrm{M}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{V}/\mathrm{c}.$ The measurement was at an opening angle of ${\theta }_{\mathrm{pq}}=11\mathrm{}°,$ covering a range in missing energy of $E_m=0\mathrm{}$ to 65 MeV. The $R_{\mathrm{LT}}$ structure function is found to be consistent with zero for $E_m>50\mathrm{}\mathrm{MeV},$ confirming an earlier study which indicated that $R_L$ vanishes in this region. The integrated strengths of the $p$- and $s$-shell are compared with a distorted wave impulse approximation (DWIA) calculation. The $s$-shell strength and shape are also compared with a Hartree Fock–random phase approximation (HF-RPA) calculation. The DWIA calculation does not succeed in giving a consistent description of both the cross section data and the extracted $R_{\mathrm{LT}}$ response for either shell. The HF-RPA calculation describes the data more consistently, which may be due to the inclusion of 2-body currents in this calculation.

High-spin states have been populated in the neutron-deficient ${}^{135,136}\mathrm{Sm}$ nuclei via the ${}^{105}\mathrm{Pd}{(}^{35}\mathrm{Cl},pxn)$ reaction at a beam energy of 180 MeV. Transitions within the Sm nuclei were enhanced by using the Microball charged particle array and $\gamma$-ray de-excitation was studied using Gammasphere. A new highly deformed band has been observed in the data and assigned to ${}^{136}\mathrm{Sm}.$ Comparison of the properties of the new band with Woods-Saxon cranking calculations suggests that it is built upon a $\nu {(i}_{13/2}{)}^2$ configuration. The band shows evidence for an interaction at $ħ\omega \sim 0.7\hspace{0.5em}\mathrm{MeV}.$ This has tentatively been interpreted as resulting from a crossing between the $\alpha =+1/2\mathrm{}$ signatures of the $\left[532\right]5/2$ and $\left[541\right]1/2$ proton orbitals. The previously known $\nu i_{13/2}$ intruder band in ${}^{135}\mathrm{Sm}$ was also observed and extended to higher rotational frequency. Both structures show good agreement with extended total Routhian surface calculations.

Lifetimes of states within a triaxial band belonging to the $\gamma$-soft nucleus ${}^{133}\mathrm{Ce}$ have been determined through a Doppler-broadened line shape analysis. A value, $Q_t\approx 2.2$ $e\mathrm{b},$ has been found for the transition quadrupole moment which is considerably smaller than that of superdeformed structures ${(Q}_t\approx 7.4$ $e\mathrm{b})$ in this mass region. The results are discussed in terms of deformation self-consistent calculations based on the total Routhian surface formalism.

The level structure of ${}^{211}\mathrm{Pb}$ has been studied using the $\alpha$ decay of ${}^{215}\mathrm{Po}$ in secular equilibrium with ${}^{219}\mathrm{Rn}$. Extremely weak $\alpha$’s and coincident $\gamma$ rays populate six new levels and a considerable fraction of the ${(g}_{9/2}{)}^3$ configuration in ${}^{211}\mathrm{Pb}$. Previous calculations of the ${(g}_{9/2}{)}^3$ configuration in ${}^{211}\mathrm{Pb}$ fit nicely with the observed states and suggest spins and parities. Comparison of the low-lying experimental states in ${}^{211}\mathrm{At}$ and ${}^{211}\mathrm{Pb}$ show considerable similarity which is presumably due to the ${\mathrm{}(9/2)\mathrm{}}^3$ configuration.

Mean lifetimes of 10 states in ${}^{78}\mathrm{Rb}$ have been measured using the recoil-distance method. The $\gamma$-ray spectra of the recoils produced following the ${}^{58}\mathrm{Ni}{(}^{23}\mathrm{N}\mathrm{a},2\mathrm{}pn)$${}^{78}\mathrm{Rb}$ reaction at 70 MeV were observed in prompt coincidence using the FSU plunger in the Pitt-FSU detector array. Different decay curves in different coincidence gates provide additional confirmation for the 153 keV doublet in the level scheme. The alternating pattern of $B\left(M1\mathrm{}\right)\mathrm{}$ strengths observed previously in the yrast band was seen to continue down to lower spins but with an attenuated magnitude, in agreement with neighboring odd-odd nuclei ${}^{74}\mathrm{Br}$ and ${}^{82}\mathrm{Y}$. A slight reduction in collectivity with decreasing spin was inferred in the lowest positive- and negative-parity bands based on the gradual decrease in the $B\left(E2\mathrm{}\right)\mathrm{}$ strengths. Particle-rotor model calculations predict strong alternations in both the signature splitting and $B\left(M1\mathrm{}\right)\mathrm{}$ strength pattern in the positive-parity yrast band, in qualitative agreement with the experimental results.

High-spin states have been studied in ${}^{122}\mathrm{Cs}$ using the ${}^{94}\mathrm{Mo}{(}^{31}\mathrm{P},2pn)$ reaction. Two rotational bands have been observed to spins of 28 and $21\hspace{0.5em}ħ.$ The most intensely populated band has been reassigned to have the $\nu {(h}_{11/2})\otimes \pi {(h}_{11/2})$ configuration. A low-spin signature inversion is observed in this band between 19 and $20\hspace{0.5em}ħ,$ consistent with the neighboring odd-odd cesium isotopes. Spectroscopic properties are discussed, including signature inversion of bands in $A\simeq 120$ nuclei.

High-spin states in ${}^{97,98}\mathrm{Rh}\hspace{0.5em}\mathrm{}(Z=45\mathrm{})\mathrm{}$ were populated via the ${}^{65}\mathrm{Cu}{(}^{36}\mathrm{S},{xn)}^{97,98}\mathrm{Rh}\hspace{0.5em}\mathrm{}(x=4,3\mathrm{})\mathrm{}$ fusion-evaporation reactions. More than 40 additional transitions have been identified and placed in the decay schemes of these nuclei. The level scheme of ${}^{97}\mathrm{Rh}$ has been extended up to tentative spins of $J^{\pi }{=39/2\mathrm{}}^{+}{,37/2\mathrm{}}^{-},$ and the placement of some of the previously known transitions has been revised. The level structure of ${}^{97}\mathrm{Rh}$ indicates a single-particle nature and the observed levels are reproduced well by spherical shell-model calculations. The level scheme of ${}^{98}\mathrm{Rh}$ has been extended up to spins $J\sim 20ħ$ and up to an excitation energy of ∼10 MeV. The low-spin structure of ${}^{98}\mathrm{Rh}(J<~10ħ),$ appears to indicate also a single-particle structure, as supported by the stretched coupling scheme ${[}^{97}\mathrm{Rh}{(J}^{\prime })\otimes \nu {(d}_{5/2}{)=}^{98}\mathrm{Rh}\mathrm{}(J\left)\mathrm{}\right].$

Several $\gamma$ transitions in ${}^{101–103}\mathrm{Nb},{\hspace{0.5em}}^{98,100}\mathrm{Y},{\hspace{0.5em}}^{146}\mathrm{La},$ and ${}^{149}\mathrm{Pr}$ are identified from spontaneous fission studies employing a ${}^{252}\mathrm{Cf}$ source and the Gammasphere detector array. In particular, the pairing-free bands in ${}^{100}\mathrm{Y}$ and ${}^{102}\mathrm{Nb}$ are extended, two rather highly deformed negative-parity bands feeding the 4.3-s $\beta$-decaying isomer of ${}^{102}\mathrm{Nb}$ are identified, and their possible bandhead configurations are discussed. In the case of ${}^{101,103}\mathrm{Nb},$ we have extended previously reported level schemes by over 20 transitions in each nuclide. For the fission partners ${}^{146}\mathrm{La}$ and ${}^{149}\mathrm{Pr}$ we have elucidated their previously unreported yrast level schemes.

High spin states in ${}^{193}\mathrm{Tl}$ have been populated by the ${}^{181}\mathrm{Ta}{(}^{16}\mathrm{O},6n)$ reaction at 110 MeV and γ-ray spectroscopy was performed using the EUROGAM II array. In addition to the two known superdeformed (SD) bands, three new superdeformed bands have been identified. The dynamic moments of inertia of two of these new bands display a sudden and opposite change of slope and two of them have identical transition energies within 2 keV. The behavior of their dynamic moments of inertia and their γ transitions allowed us to propose configurations for the proton orbitals involved around the SD shell closure $Z=80.\mathrm{}$ The intrinsic proton states identified are the two signature partners of the $\left[411\right]1/2$ and the negative signature of the $\left[651\right]1/2$ orbitals. Their properties are compared to the predictions of two theoretical calculations.

The variation of the kinematic and dynamic moments of inertia and the bandhead moments of inertia $J_0$ systematics of superdeformed (SD) bands in the $A\sim 190$ region are investigated, which turns out to be helpful in the spin prediction of SD bands. The spins of about 70 SD bands in the $A\sim 190$ region are predicted by these approaches in combination with the usually adopted best-fit method. The $J_0$ systematics seems to be very useful to the understanding of the properties of excited SD bands and the implication of identical SD bands.

A dynamical study of the decay of a metastable state by quantum tunneling through an anisotropic, nonseparable, two-dimensional potential barrier is performed by the numerical solution of the time-dependent Schrödinger equation. Initial quasistationary proton states are chosen in the framework of a deformed Woods-Saxon single-particle model. The decay of two sets of states corresponding to true and quasi-level-crossing is studied and the evolution of their decay properties as a function of nuclear deformation is calculated around the crossing point. The results show that the investigation of the proton decay from metastable states in deformed nuclei can unambiguously distinguish between the two types of crossing and determine the structure of the nuclear states involved.

Blocking effect and the effect of the Coriolis interaction are studied as the causes of the odd-even difference in the moments of inertia. The cranking formula is used to calculate the moments of inertia and the pairing Hamiltonian is diagonalized to obtain the state vectors and their energies that are necessary to calculate the moments of inertia. The moment of inertia is divided into two parts. One part $I_{\Delta v=2\mathrm{}}$ comes from a part of the angular momentum operator that changes the seniority by 2. This part is the contribution from the even core in the odd-particle system and the blocking effect emerges in this part. The other part $I_{\Delta v=0\mathrm{}}$ comes from that which does not change the seniority. This part corresponds to the contribution of the Coriolis interaction to the moment of inertia. Calculations are made for systems with $N=95\mathrm{}–101.$ Three typical examples are analyzed. The first example shows the importance of $I_{\Delta v=0\mathrm{}},$ the second example shows that the moment of inertia becomes an increasing function of $G,$ the strength of the pairing interaction, because of the predominance of $I_{\Delta v=0\mathrm{}}$, and the third example shows the situation where $I_{\Delta v=0\mathrm{}}$ is negligibly small. It is also shown that the blocking of a special level by the last odd particle brings about the smaller value for $I_{\Delta v=2\mathrm{}}$ relative to the moment of inertia for the neighboring even-particle system.

We compute Coulomb energies for positive-parity levels in the mirror nuclei ${}^{18}\mathrm{O}$ and ${}^{18}\mathrm{Ne}$. The dependence on the configuration and binding energy is explicitly taken into account, using wave functions containing two-particle– and four-particle–two-hole components. Predictions are made for $2_3^{+},$ $3_1^{+},$ and $4_2^{+}$ states.

A mean-field plus pairing model for atomic nuclei in the Fe region was studied using a finite-temperature quantum Monte Carlo method. We present results for thermodynamical quantities such as the internal energy and the specific heat. These results give indications of a phase transition related to the pairing among nucleons, around temperatures of 0.7 MeV. The influence of the residual interaction and of the size of the model space on the nuclear level densities is discussed too.

α-planar states in ${}^{28}\mathrm{Si}$ are studied by employing the isomorphic shell model which uses no adjustable parameters. In the model, possible α particles and their spatial distribution are derived, instead of being assumed as usual in α-cluster models. Oblate triaxial structure for the ground state and a seven α-particle planar structure for states with hexadecapole deformation have been found. Predictions of ground state and excited rotational bands and of other observables have been made and results are successfully compared with experimental data and those of other models where available. The novelty of the present study is focused on the fact that the axis of rotation changes within the ground state band and that the mentioned α-planar structure originates four rotational bands two of which exhibit an almost rigid body rotation supporting a superdeformation for ${}^{28}\mathrm{Si}.$ The resonances of ${}^{12}{\mathrm{C}+}^{16}\mathrm{O}$ at 32.20 MeV, $I^{\pi }{=16\mathrm{}}^{+},$ and at 46.2 MeV and 43.6 MeV, $I^{\pi }{=14\mathrm{}}^{+},$ decaying to known planar states of light $4n$ nuclei, have been verified as members of three of the above four excited bands, thus supporting the proposed planar structure of ${}^{28}\mathrm{Si}.$

An analysis of positive parity levels in the even palladium isotopes ${}^{100-116}$Pd has been carried out in the framework of the interacting boson approximation-2 model to identify states having large mixed-symmetry components. By means of numerical calculations, performed in the U(5) limit of the model, it has been possible to find simple relations obeyed by the eigenvalues of the generalized Majorana operator for the mixed-symmetry states having ${F=F}_{\max }-1.$ These results have been utilized as a starting point for our analysis. Experimental energies, static and transition electric quadrupole and magnetic dipole moments as well as mixing ratios and intensity ratios have been compared to the values calculated by using a realistic Hamiltonian. In the analysis only six out of the twelve model parameters have been varied as a function of the neutron number. A good overall agreement has been found. A detailed investigation of the level structure made it possible to identify whole groups of states of predominant mixed-symmetry character and to establish, in most cases, a close correspondence with states of the U(5) limit of the model.

The interacting boson approximation-2 analysis of even ${}^{100-116}\mathrm{Pd}$ and ${}^{98-114}\mathrm{Ru}$ isotopes, which led us to the identification of whole groups of ${F=F}_{\max }-1$ states, has been extended to check whether states of $F<\mathrm{}{F}_{\max }-1$ character could also be present in these isotopic chains. To have a guideline for their identification we performed numerical calculations in the U(5) limit of the model and found that for three groups of ${F=F}_{\max }-2$ states the generalized Majorana operator eigenvalues can be expressed in analytic form. The information derived on the excitation-energy pattern of these states has been exploited to account for the possibility that mixed symmetry (MS) states with $J>~8$ are yrast in the realistic cases considered. A first hint for the identification of MS states having large $F<\mathrm{}{F}_{\max }-1$ components at energies lower than 5.5 MeV has been obtained from the comparison of the experimental and calculated energies for the relevant states in both palladium and ruthenium chains. The analysis of the available data on their e.m. properties (mixing ratios and intensity ratios) supports this interpretation.

The structure of the nuclei ${}^{206,205,204}\mathrm{Pb}$ is studied in terms of shell model employing a realistic effective interaction derived from the Bonn A nucleon-nucleon potential. The energy spectra, binding energies and electromagnetic properties are calculated and compared with experiment. A very good overall agreement is obtained. This evidences the reliability of our realistic effective interaction and encourages use of modern realistic potentials in shell-model calculations for heavy-mass nuclei.