Spin dependence of K mixing, strong configuration mixing, and electromagnetic properties of Hf-178

The combined data of two Coulomb excitation experiments has verified the purely electromagnetic population of the K-pi=4(+),6(+),8(-), and 16(+) rotational bands in Hf-178 via 2 <=nu <= 14 K-forbidden transitions, quantifying the breakdown of the K-selection rule with increasing spin in the low-K bands. The gamma-, 4(+), and 6(+) bands were extended, and four new states in a rotational band were tentatively assigned to a previously known K-pi=0(+) band. The quasiparticle structure of the 6(+) (t(1/2)=77 ns) and 8(-) (t(1/2)=4 s) isomer bands were evaluated, showing that the gyromagnetic ratios of the 6(+) isomer band are consistent with a pure pi(7)/(+)(2)[404],pi(5)/(+)(2)[402] structure. The 8(-) isomer band at 1147 keV and the second 8(-) band at 1479 keV, thought to be predominantly nu(7)/(-)(2)[514],nu(9)/(+)(2)[624] and pi(9)/(-)(2)[514],pi(7)/(+)(2)[404], respectively, are mixed to a degree approaching the strong-mixing limit. Based on measured < K-pi=16(+)parallel to E2 parallel to K-pi=0(+)> matrix elements, it was shown that heavy-ion bombardment could depopulate the 16(+) isomer at the similar to 1% level, although no states were found that would mediate photodeexcitation of the isomer via low-energy x-ray absorption.Physics, NuclearSCI(E)13ARTICLE3null7