99Tcproduced by the(3He,pnγ)reaction

Abstract

The nuclear structure of ${}^{99}$Tc was studied using the ${}^{98}$Mo${(}^{3}$He,$\mathrm{pn}\ensuremath{\gamma})$ reaction, which has populated most states in the nucleus below 2 MeV excitation energy. The proton exit channel was isolated from competing reaction channels by operating $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray detectors in coincidence with a large-solid-angle proton detector. The experiments included $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray excitation functions, $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray angular distributions, and $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-$\ensuremath{\gamma}$ coincidences. The results were interpreted using a particle-rotor model. The systematics of increasing deformations in odd-$A$ Tc nuclei are discussed.