Eur. Phys. J. A (2018) 54: 176
https://doi.org/10.1140/epja/i2018-12613-4

Regular Article - Experimental Physics

Low-lying positive parity bands in ¹⁶²Yb

¹ University of Zululand, Department of Physics, P/B X1001, 3886, KwaDlangezwa, South Africa
² University of the Western Cape, Department of Physics, P/B X17, 7535, Bellville, South Africa
³ iThemba LABS, National Research Foundation, PO Box 722, 7129, Somerset-West, South Africa
⁴ National Metrology Institute of South Africa, DC Low Frequency and Radio Frequency, Lynnwood Ridge, P/B X34, 0040, Pretoria, South Africa
⁵ University of Stellenbosch, Department of Physics, P/B X1, 7602, Matieland, South Africa
⁶ University of Johannesburg, Department of Applied Physics and engineering Mathematics, PO Box 17011, 2028, Doornfontein, South Africa

^* e-mail: linda.mdletshe@gmail.com

Received: 10 June 2018
Accepted: 17 September 2018
Published online: 16 October 2018

Abstract

The structure of the low-lying positive parity bands in ¹⁶²Yb has been studied at iThemba LABS, using the ¹⁵⁰Sm(¹⁶O,4n)¹⁶²Yb fusion-evaporation reaction. A band built on the first excited state has been identified for the first time. In addition, we report new rotational levels that form the band structures of both the odd and even spin components of the -vibrational band. The first excited band and the even spin members of the -vibrational band exhibit a Landau-Zenner crossing. This crossing demonstrates that the significant signature splitting between the odd and even spin members of the band is contributed to by band mixing.