Lifetimes in Te124 : Examining critical-point symmetry in the Te nuclei

Abstract

The Doppler-shift attenuation method following inelastic neutron scattering was used to determine the lifetimes of nuclear levels to 3.3-MeV excitation in $\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}^{124}\mathrm{Te}$. Level energies and spins, $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray energies and branching ratios, and multipole-mixing ratios were deduced from measured $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray angular distributions at incident neutron energies of 2.40 and 3.30 MeV, $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray excitation functions, and $\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{\gamma}$ coincidence measurements. The newly obtained reduced transition probabilities and level energies for $\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}^{124}\mathrm{Te}$ were compared to critical-point symmetry model predictions. The $E(5)$ and ${\ensuremath{\beta}}^{4}$ potential critical-point symmetries were also investigated in $\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}^{122}\mathrm{Te}$ and $\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}^{126}\mathrm{Te}$.