Experimental study of the low-lying structure ofZr94with the(n,n'γ)reaction

Abstract

The low-lying structure of {sub 40}{sup 94}Zr was studied with the (n,n{sup '}{gamma}) reaction, and a level scheme was established based on excitation function and {gamma}{gamma} coincidence measurements. Branching ratios, multipole mixing ratios, and spin assignments were determined from angular distribution measurements. Lifetimes of levels up to 3.4 MeV were measured by the Doppler-shift attenuation method, and for many transitions the reduced transition probabilities were determined. In addition to the anomalous 2{sub 2}{sup +} state, which has a larger B(E2;2{sub 2}{sup +}{yields}0{sub 1}{sup +}) value than the B(E2;2{sub 1}{sup +}{yields}0{sub 1}{sup +}), the experimental results revealed interesting and unusual properties of the low-lying states in {sup 94}Zr. In a simple interpretation, the excited states are classified in two distinct categories, i.e., those populating the 2{sub 2}{sup +} state and those decaying to the 2{sub 1}{sup +} state.