Properties of low-lying states in 43Sc

Abstract

The 40Ca(α, pγ)43Sc reaction at Eα = 11.8 to 15.5 MeV has been used to investigate the level structure of 43Sc below 4.2 MeV excitation. Level energies and decay schemes were determined from proton–gamma coincidence spectra obtained using an annular surface barrier detector positioned near 180° and two 40 cm3 Ge(Li) detectors. Angular correlations were measured in the same configuration using an array of six 12.7 × 15.2 cm NaI(Tl) detectors mounted on the Chalk River LOTUS goniometer. Twelve new levels were observed in 43Sc and information on the spins, branching ratios, and gamma-ray multipole mixing ratios of these and several other excited states has been obtained. The results are compared with recent theoretical predictions of Johnstone. In particular, levels at 1931 and 2552 keV, 1830 keV and 1883 keV have been tentatively assigned as the 9/2+ and probable 11/2+ members of the kπ = 3/2+ band, the (fp)3, Jπ = 11/2− state, and the 9/2− member of the kπ = 3/2− band, respectively.