High-spin states in 208Rn

Abstract

The yrast decay scheme of 208Rn has been investigated up to spin ≈ 20 h ̵ and an excitation energy of ≈ 6 MeV. Several different γ-ray spectroscopic techniques were used to determine the properties of excited states and transitions in the nucleus. Significant changes to the previously established level scheme are proposed, based on the existence of an unobserved 3.1 keV transition. Simple empirical shell-model calculations of level energies aided in the assignment of shell-model configurations to excited states and the decay scheme is discussed in terms of these configurations. The energy level systematics for the even radon isotopes, from A = 206 to 212 are discussed, as are core polarization effects in the even radon isotopes ( A = 204 to 210) and polonium isotopes ( A = 202–208).