Interpretation of fp-shell nuclei, "5"3Mn and "5"3Fe

Shell-model calculations were carried out for nuclei around the "5"6Ni core incorporating the f_7_/_2, f_5_/_2, p_3_/_2 and p_1_/_2 orbitals. Nucleon excitations were permitted across the shell-gap to determine the optimal single-particle energies of these orbitals in "5"5Co. These were then used to predict levels in "5"3Mn and "5"3Fe. The resulting levels were compared with experimental data and calculations were performed to determine transitions strengths between these levels which were also compared to experimental values. Further experimental data was sought for these nuclei using the fusion- evaporation reactions, "2"4Mg("3"2S,3p)"5"3Mn and "2"4Mg("3"2S,2pn)"5"3Fe respectively. Gamma rays emitted in these reactions were detected using the GAMMASPHERE array and recoiling nuclei were detected using the Fragment Mass Analyser in the experiment which was carried out at the Argonne National Laboratory, Chicago. The results of these calculations and experiments were compared and discussed and the correlation was shown to be encouraging in terms of the energy, spin. and parity of predicted levels and the transition strengths of gamma rays between them. (author)SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:DXN046367 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo