Eur. Phys. J. A (2005) 24: 179-183
https://doi.org/10.1140/epja/i2005-10001-y

Original Article

Observation of a superdeformed band in ¹⁹⁰Pb

¹ Department of Nuclear Physics, Research School of Physical Sciences and Engineering, Australian National University, ACT 0200, Canberra, Australia
² Department of Physics, The Faculties, Australian National University, ACT 0200, Canberra, Australia
³ Nuclear Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA

^* e-mail: Anna.Wilson@anu.edu.au

Received: 13 January 2005
Accepted: 3 February 2005
Published online: 7 March 2005

Abstract

A superdeformed band has been observed in the N = 108 isotope ¹⁹⁰Pb. This is the most neutron-deficient Pb isotope in which superdeformed states have been observed. Several theoretical approaches have predicted that N = 108 will mark the limit of observable superdeformation in the Pb isotopes. The band, which consists of five (possibly six) transitions, is observed to feed at least one isomeric level in its decay to the ground state. This decay pattern supports a spin assignment of 10ℏ for the lowest observed level.