Yrast and non-yrast 2+ states of 134Ce and 136Nd populated in relativistic Coulomb excitation

Abstract

The first 2+ states in 134Ce and 136Nd and the second 2+ state in 136Nd were populated by Coulomb excitation at relativistic energies, and γ-rays were measured using the RISING setup at GSI. For 134Ce an indication of the excitation to the second 2+ state was observed. This experiment performed for the first time Coulomb excitation to second 2+ states with rare isotope beams at relativistic energies. For 136Nd the B(E2;21+→0+), B(E2;22+→0+), and B(E2;22+→21+) values relative to the previously known B(E2;21+→0+) value for 134Ce are determined as 81(10), 11(3) and 180(92) W.u., respectively. The results are discussed in the framework of geometrical models that indicate pronounced γ-softness in these nuclei.