Evidence for enhanced neutron-proton correlations from the level structure of theN = Z + 1 nucleus 87Tc

The low-lying excited states in the neutron-deficient N = Z + 1 nucleus 8743 Tc 44 have been studiedvia the fusion-evaporation reaction 54 Fe( 36 Ar, 2n1p) 87 Tc at the Grand Accélérateur National d’IonsLourds (GANIL), France. The AGATA spectrometer was used in conjunction with the auxiliaryNEDA, Neutron Wall, and DIAMANT detector arrays to measure coincident prompt γ-rays, neutrons, and charged particles emitted in the reaction. A level scheme of 87 Tc from the (9/2 +g.s. ) state to the (33/2 +)statewasestablishedbasedon6mutuallycoincidentγ-ray transitions. The con-1structed level structure exhibits a rotational behavior with a sharp back bending at ~ω ≈ 0.50 MeV. A decrease in alignment frequency and increase in alignment sharpness in the odd-mass isotonic chains around N = 44 is proposed as an effect of the enhanced isoscalar neutron-proton interactions in odd-mass nuclei when approaching the N = Z line.QC 20210607