Observation of Positive-Parity Bands in $^{109}$Pd and $^{111}$Pd: Enhanced $gamma$-Softness

The neutron-rich nuclei $^{109}$Pd and $^{111}$Pd were produced as fission fragments following the $^{30}$Si + $^{168}$Er reaction at 142 MeV. Using the identification based on the coincidences with the complementary fission fragments, the only positive-parity bands observed so far in $^{109}$Pd and $^{111}$Pd emerged from this work. A band, built on top of the 5/2$^+$ ground state exhibiting $Delta I$ = 1 energy-level staggering, was observed in each of these nuclei. Both nuclei of interest, $^{109}$Pd and $^{111}$Pd, are suggested to lie in the transitional region of Pd isotopes of maximum $gamma$-softness. The ground states of both nuclei are predicted by TRS calculations to be extremely $gamma$-soft with shallow triaxial minima. The first crossing in the new bands is proposed to be due to an alignment of $h^2_{11/2}$ neutrons.

Fast-timing measurements in 95,96Mo

Half-lives of the 19/2+ and 21/2+ states in 95Mo and of the 8+ and 10+ states in 96Mo were measured. Matrix elements for yrast transitions in 95Mo and 96Mo are discussed.

Single-particle isomeric states in 121Pd and 117Ru

Neutron-rich nuclei were populated in a relativistic fission of 238U. Gamma-rays with energies of 135 keV and 184 keV were associated with two isomeric states in 121Pd and 117Ru. Half-lives of 0.63(5) microseconds and 2.0(3) micrisecondss were deduced and the isomeric states were interpreted in terms of deformed single-particle states.