Study of Delayed States in 94Nb, 108Ag, and 110Ag

Abstract

The lifetimes and energies associated with low-energy gamma transitions from the 93Nb(n,γ)94Nb, 107Ag(n,γ)108Ag, and 109Ag(n,γ)110Ag reactions have been studied using a high-resolution Ge(Li) X-ray spectrometer. New weak transitions are observed in the decay of 110Ag at 30.84, 38.19, 41.78, and 136.65 keV, while intense gamma transitions at 105.6, 235.8, and 266.95 keV are resolved into doublets. The half-life of the state involving the intense 117.47 keV transition in 110Ag and the 215 keV transition in 108Ag is confirmed as 36.5 ± 2.0 ns and 54 ± 8 ns, respectively, while a new delayed state associated with the gamma transition of 99.404 keV (T1/2 = 30 ± 5 ns) in 94Nb is observed for the first time. The upper limits for the half-lives involving most of the intense transitions in all the three isotopes are also reported. A level scheme is proposed and discussed for 108Ag.