Search for octupole correlations in $^{147}$Nd

TL;DR

This study investigates the excited states and potential octupole correlations in $^{147}$Nd through gamma spectroscopy, lifetime measurements, and theoretical energy surface calculations, finding no clear evidence of parity doublet bands with K=5/2.

Contribution

It provides new gamma lines, levels, and lifetime data for $^{147}$Nd, and offers theoretical predictions of octupole deformation configurations, contributing to understanding octupole correlations in this nucleus.

Findings

24 new gamma lines and 3 new levels identified

Lifetimes measured for 8 excited levels in $^{147}$Nd

No observed parity doublet bands with K=5/2

Abstract

Properties of excited states in $^{147}$Nd have been studied with multispectra and $\gamma \gamma$ coincidence measurements. Twenty-four new $\gamma$-lines and three new levels have been introduced into the level scheme of $^{147}$Nd. Lifetimes of eight excited levels in $^{147}$Nd, populated in the $\beta$ decay of $^{147}$Pr, have been measured using the advanced time-delayed $\beta\gamma\gamma$(t) method. Reduced transition probabilities have been determined for 30 $\gamma$-transitions in $^{147}$Nd. Potential energy surfaces on the ($\beta_{2}$,$\beta_{3}$) plane calculated for $^{147}$Nd using the Strutinsky method predict two single quasiparticle configurations with nonzero octupole deformation, with K=1/2 and K=5/2. We do not observe parity doublet bands with K=5/2. For pair of opposite parity bands that could form the K=1/2 parity doublet we were able only to determine lower limit of the dipole moment, $|D_0|\geq$0.02 e$\cdot fm$.