Level Structure of 171Tm

Abstract

The properties of the γ-ray transitions in 171Tm, following beta decay of 7.5 h 171Er, have been studied using an iron-free π√2 beta spectrometer and Ge(Li) detectors, singly and in coincidence. The multipolarities of 8 lower-energy γ transitions have been established from a study of L- or M-subshell-internal-conversion lines. The measured K-line intensities of 20 higher-energy transitions yield K conversion coefficients and hence additional multipolarity assignments. Gamma-ray energy measurements, together with an extensive series of gamma–gamma coincidence experiments, have been used to establish the role of 59 (out of 65) γ transitions in the 171Tm level scheme. Sixteen excited states are identified at energies of 5.025 (3/2+), 116.6 (5/2+), 129.0 (7/2+), 326.7* (9/2+), 424.8 (7/2−), 635.4 (7/2+), 675.7 (3/2+), 737.2 (5/2+), 822.3* (7/2+), 912.8 (5/2+), 998.6 (7/2+), 1225.5* (3/2, 5/2, or 7/2+), 1284.7* (5/2+), 1296.3*, 1391.2*, and 1400.5* (5/2+) keV. The asterisks indicate levels which are new or at variance with those proposed by some other workers. The coincidence data does not support a level at 861 keV proposed by two other groups of workers on the basis of energy sums. Nilsson orbital assignments are proposed and discussed for 12 levels.