Excited states in the extremely neutron-deficient nucleus Te107 have been identified from two separate experiments using the recoil-decay tagging technique. Two connected structures were observed on the basis of γγ-coincidence relations and tentatively assigned as built on the mixed-parentage νg7/2d5/2 and νh11/2 intruder configurations. The observed structures were compared with large-scale shell-model calculations and total Routhian surface calculations. Collective behavior was discovered to persist in the νh11/2 band of Te107 which highlights the shape-polarizing effect of a single valence neutron occupying the h11/2 intruder orbit as the N=50 shell closure is approached.

The mean lifetimes of the lowest energy 2(+), 8(+) and 9(-) states in Os-166 have been measured using the recoil distance Doppler-shift method in conjunction with a selective recoil-decay tagging technique. These measurements extend studies into the most neutron-deficient mass region accessible to current experimental methods. The B(E2; 2(+) -> 0(+)) = 7(2) W.u. extracted from these measurements is markedly lower than those observed in the heavier even-mass Os isotopes. The 8(+) and 9(-) states yield reduced transition probabilities that are consistent with single-particle transitions. While these values may indicate a departure from collective structure, the level scheme and the underlying nuclear configurations can also be interpreted in terms of a simple collective picture. This contrasting behaviour suggests an intriguing dichotomy in the description of heavy transitional nuclei.

Excited states in the extremely neutron-deficient nucleus ¹⁷²Pt were populated via ⁹⁶Ru(⁷⁸Kr,2p) and ⁹²Mo(⁸³Kr,3n) reactions. The level scheme has been extended up to an excitation energy of  ~ 5 MeV and tentative spin-parity assignments up to I^π = 18⁺. Linear polarization and angular distribution measurements were used to determine the electromagnetic E1 character of the dipole transitions connecting the positive-parity ground-state band with an excited side-band, firmly establishing it as a negative-parity band. The lowest member of this negative-parity structure was firmly assigned spin-parity 3^-. In addition, we observed an E3 transition from this 3^- state to the ground state, providing direct evidence for octupole collectivity in ¹⁷²Pt. Large-scale shell model (LSSM) and total Routhian surface (TRS) calculations have been performed, supporting the interpretation of the 3^- state as a collective octupole-vibrational state.

Excited states have been identified in the heaviest known even-Z N=84 isotone 158W, which lies in a region of one-proton emitters and the two-proton drip line. The observation of γ-ray transitions feeding the ground state establishes the excitation energy of the yrast 6+ state confirming the spin-gap nature of the α-decaying 8+ isomer. The 8+ isomer is also expected to be unbound to two-proton emission but no evidence for this decay mode was observed. An upper limit for the two-proton decay branch has been deduced as b2p≤ 0.17% at the 90% confidence level. The possibility of observing two-proton emission from multiparticle isomers in nearby nuclides is considered.

The level scheme of the neutron-deficient nuclide Os-168 has been extended and mean lifetimes of excited states have been measured by the recoil distance Doppler-shift method using the JUROGAM gamma-ray spectrometer in conjunction with the IKP Koln plunger device. The 168Os. rays were measured in delayed coincidence with recoiling fusion-evaporation residues detected at the focal plane of the RITU gas-filled separator. The ratio of reduced transition probabilities B(E2; 4(1)(+)-> 2(1)(+))/B(E2; 2(1)(+)-> 0(1)(+)) is measured to be 0.34(18), which is very unusual for collective band structures and cannot be reproduced by interacting boson model (IBM-2) calculations based on the SkM* energy-density functional.

Excited states in the neutron-deficient odd-odd proton-unbound nuclide Ta-158 have been investigated in two separate experiments. In the first experiment, Ir-166 nuclei were produced in the reactions of 380 MeV Kr-78 ions with an isotopically enriched Mo-92 target. The alpha-decay chain of the 9(+) state in Ir-166 was analyzed. Fine structure in the a decay of the 9(+) state in Re-162 established a 66 keV difference in excitation energy between the lowest-lying 9(+) and 10(+) states in Ta-158. Higher-lying states in Ta-158 were populated in the reactions of 255 MeV Ni-58 ions with an isotopically enriched Pd-102 target. Gamma-ray decay paths that populate, depopulate, and bypass a 19(-) isomeric state have been identified. The general features of the deduced level scheme are discussed and the prospects for observing proton emission branches from excited states are considered.

Excited states in the neutron-deficient N = 84 nuclide Lu-155 have been populated by using the Pd-102(Ni-58, alpha p) reaction. The Lu-155 nuclei were separated by using the gas-filled recoil ion transport unit (RITU) separator and implanted into the Si detectors of the gamma recoil electron alpha tagging (GREAT) spectrometer. Prompt gamma-ray emissions measured at the target position using the JUROGAM Ge detector array were assigned to Lu-155 through correlations with alpha decays measured in GREAT. Structures feeding the (11/2(-)) and (25/2(-)) alpha-decaying states have been revised and extended. Shell-model calculations have been performed and are found to reproduce the excitation energies of several of the low-lying states observed to within an average of 71 keV. In particular, the seniority inversion of the 25/2(-) and 27/2(-) states is reproduced.

An isomeric state at high spin and excitation energy was recently observed in the proton-unbound nucleus 158Ta. This state was observed to decay by both α and γ decay modes. The large spin change required to decay via γ-ray emission incurs a lifetime long enough for α decay to compete. The α decay has an energy of 8644(11) keV, which is among the highest observed in the region, a partial half-life of 440(70) μs and changes the spin by 11h. In this paper, additional evidence supporting the assignment of this α decay to the high-spin isomer in 158Ta will be presented.

A multiparticle spin-trap isomer has been discovered in the proton-unbound nucleus 158 73 Ta 85. The isomer mainly decays by (h) over bar -ray emission with a half-life of 6.1d(1) mu s. Analysis of the gamma-ray data shows that the isomer lies 2668 keV above the known 9(+) state and has a spin 10h higher and negative parity. This 19(-) isomer also has an 8644(11) keV, 1.4(2)% alpha-decay branch that populates the 9(+) state in Lu-154. No proton-decay branch from the isomer was identified, despite the isomer being unbound to proton emission by 3261(14) keV. This remarkable stability against proton emission is compared with theoretical predictions, and the implications for the extent of observable nuclides are considered.

Neutron-rich silver isotopes were populated in the fragmentation of a Xe-136 beam and the relativistic fission of U-238. The fragments were mass analyzed with the GSI Fragment Separator and subsequently implanted into a passive stopper. Isomeric transitions were detected by 105 high-purity germanium detectors. Eight isomeric states were observed in Ag122-126 nuclei. The level schemes of Ag-122,Ag-123,Ag-125 were revised and extended with isomeric transitions being observed for the first time. The excited states in the odd-mass silver isotopes are interpreted as core-coupled states. The isomeric states in the even-mass silver isotopes are discussed in the framework of the proton-neutron split multiplets. The results of shell-model calculations, performed for the most neutron-rich silver nuclei are compared to the experimental data.