Experimental Nuclear Structure Studies in the Vicinityof the N = Z Nucleus 100Sn and in the ExtremelyNeutron Deficient 162Ta Nucleus

Sammanfattning: This work covers spectroscopic studies of nuclei from different regions of the Segré chart whose properties illustrate the delicate balance between the forces in the atomic nucleus. Studies of nuclei far from stability offer new insights into the complex nucleon many-body problem. In nuclei with equal neutron and proton numbers (N = Z), the unique nature of the atomic nucleus as an object composed of two distinct types of fermions can be expressed as enhanced correlations arising between neutrons and protons occupying orbitals with the same quantum numbers. The bound N = Z nuclei with mass number A > 90 can only be produced in the laboratory at very low cross sections. The related problems of identifying and distinguishing such reaction products and their associated gamma rays have prevented a firm interpretation of their structure even for the lowest excited states until recently. In the present work the experimental difficulties of observation of excited states in the N = Z = 46 nucleus 92Pd have been overcome through the use of a highly efficient, state-of-the-art detector system; the EXOGAM-Neutron Wall-DIAMANT setup, and a prolonged experimental running period. The level spacings in the ground state band of 92Pd give the first experimental evidence for a new spin-aligned neutron-proton (np) paired phase, an unexpected effect of enhanced np correlations for N = Z nuclei in the immediate vicinity of the doubly magic nucleus 100Sn.Excited states in 94Ru and 95Rh nuclei close to the double magic shell  Z = N = 50 have been studied in order to untangle the ambiguity of the spin and the parity of the lowest-lying states. The observed yrast structures are compared to results of large-scale shell model (LSSM) calculations and the strengths of hindered E1 transitions are used as a sensitive test of the LSSM parameters. The effect of single-particle-hole excitations is discussed in terms of the strength of hindered E1 transitions.Excited states of the odd-odd nucleus 162Ta have been observed using the JUROGAM/RITU experimental set-up. This nucleus is located in a transitional region in the nuclide chart which is between near-spherical nuclei and well-deformed nuclei, offering the possibility to study the emergence of collective phenomena and nuclear deformation (in particular the degree of triaxiality). The results, which are interpreted in the framework of the cranked shell model with total Routhian surface calculations, suggest an almost axially symmetric nuclear shape. The energy staggering between the signature partners of the yrast rotational bands has been deduced for eight odd-odd isotopes in the neighborhood of 162Ta nucleus and the special observed feature of signature inversion for these nuclei is discussed.