Spin Dependence of \u3cem\u3eK\u3c/em\u3e Mixing, Strong Configuration Mixing, and Electromagnetic Properties of \u3csup\u3e178\u3c/sup\u3eHf

The combined data of two Coulomb excitation experiments has verified the purely electromagnetic population of the Kπ = 4+, 6+, 8−, and 16+rotational bands in 178Hf via 2≤ν ≤14 K-forbidden transitions, quantifying the breakdown of the K-selection rule with increasing spin in the low-K bands. The γ -, 4+, and 6+bands were extended, and four new states in a rotational band were tentatively assigned to a previously known Kπ = 0+band. The quasiparticle structure of the 6+(t1/2= 77 ns) and 8−(t1/2= 4 s) isomer bands were evaluated, showing that the gyromagnetic ratios of the 6+ isomer band are consistent with a pure π 7/2+[404], π 5/2+[402] structure. The 8−isomer band at 1147 keV and the second 8−band at 1479 keV, thought to be predominantly ν 7/2-[514], ν 9/2+[624] and π 9/2-[514], π 7/2+[404], respectively, are mixed to a degree approaching the strongmixing limit. Based on measured (Kπ = 16+‖E2‖Kπ = 0+) matrix elements, it was shown that heavy-ion bombardment could depopulate the 16+isomer at the ∼1% level, although no states were found that would mediate photodeexcitation of the isomer via low-energy x-ray absorption