https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/20123506006
High-precision excited state lifetime measurements in rare earth nuclei using LaBr3(Ce) detectors
1 Wright Nuclear Structure Laboratory, Yale University, P.O. Box 208120, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
2 Institut für Kernphysik, Universität zu Köln, Zülpicher Str. 77, 50937 Köln, Germany
3 University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7XH, United Kingdom
4 Nuclear Research Center Negev, Beer-Sheva 84190, Israel
5 Institut für Kernphysik, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Schlossgartenstr. 9, 64289 Darmstadt, Germany
a Present address: Department of Nuclear Physics, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200 Australia; e-mail:
elizabeth.williams@anu.edu.au
To study how collective nuclear structure evolves towards mid-shell and test next-generation LaBr3(Ce) scintillation detectors, measurements of the lifetimes of 21+ states in 168Hf and 174W were conducted at the Wright Nuclear Structure Laboratory. Preliminary results indicate that the excellent time and energy resolution of LaBr3 detectors make them well suited to fast timing measurements, allowing for improved background subtraction and peak resolution in comparison to BaF2 detectors. Preliminary analysis shows an order of magnitude reduction in the statistical error of the 2+ lifetimes in comparison to literature values for both nuclei. In the case of 174W, a substantial reduction of the observed lifetime hints at the possibility of new physics in the region.
© Owned by the authors, published by EDP Sciences, 2012