Two separate experiments using the Differential Decay Curve Method have been performed to extract mean lifetimes of excited states in 106Cd. The medium-spin states of interest were populated by the 98Mo( 12C, 4n) 106Cd reaction performed at the Wright Nuclear Structure Lab., Yale University. From this experiment, two isomeric state mean lifetimes have been deduced. The low-lying states were populated by the 96Mo(13C, 3n)106Cd reaction performed at the Institut für Kernphysik, Universität zu Köln. The mean lifetime of the Iπ = 21+ state was deduced, tentatively, as 16.4(9) ps. This value differs from the previously accepted literature value from Coulomb excitation of 10.43(9) ps.

Detailed spectroscopic information on the N∼82 nuclei is necessary to benchmark shell-model calculations in the region. The nuclear structure above long-lived isomers in Xe134 is investigated after multinucleon transfer (MNT) and actinide fission. Xenon-134 was populated as (i) a transfer product in Xe136+U238 and Xe136+Pb208 MNT reactions and (ii) as a fission product in the Xe136+U238 reaction employing the high-resolution Advanced Gamma Tracking Array (AGATA). Trajectory reconstruction has been applied for the complete identification of beamlike transfer products with the magnetic spectrometer PRISMA. The Xe136+Pt198 MNT reaction was studied with the γ-ray spectrometer GAMMASPHERE in combination with the gas detector array Compact Heavy Ion Counter (CHICO). Several high-spin states in Xe134 on top of the two long-lived isomers are discovered based on γγ-coincidence relationships and information on the γ-ray angular distributions as well as excitation energies from the total kinetic energy loss and fission fragments. The revised level scheme of Xe134 is extended up to an excitation energy of 5.832 MeV with tentative spin-parity assignments up to 16+. Previous assignments of states above the 7- isomer are revised. Latest shell-model calculations employing two different effective interactions reproduce the experimental findings and support the new spin and parity assignments.

The transitional nuclei Xe132 and Xe133 are investigated after multinucleon-transfer (MNT) and fusion-evaporation reactions. Both nuclei are populated (i) in Xe136+Pb208 MNT reactions employing the high-resolution Advanced GAmma Tracking Array (AGATA) coupled to the magnetic spectrometer PRISMA, (ii) in the Xe136+Pt198 MNT reaction employing the GAMMASPHERE spectrometer in combination with the gas-detector array CHICO, and (iii) as an evaporation residue after a Te130(α,xn)Xe134-xn fusion-evaporation reaction employing the HORUS γ-ray array at the University of Cologne. The high-spin level schemes are considerably extended above the Jπ=(7-) and (10+) isomers in Xe132 and above the 11/2- isomer in Xe133. The results are compared to the high-spin systematics of the Z=54 as well as the N=78 and N=79 chains. Furthermore, evidence is found for a long-lived (T1/2â‰1μs) isomer in Xe133 which closes a gap along the N=79 isotones. Shell-model calculations employing the SN100PN and PQM130 effective interactions reproduce the experimental findings and provide guidance to the interpretation of the observed high-spin features.

The high-spin structures and isomers of the N=81 isotones Xe135 and Ba137 are investigated after multinucleon-transfer (MNT) and fusion-evaporation reactions. Both nuclei are populated (i) in Xe136+U238 and (ii) Xe136+Pb208 MNT reactions employing the high-resolution Advanced Gamma Tracking Array (AGATA) coupled to the magnetic spectrometer PRISMA, (iii) in the Xe136+Pt198 MNT reaction employing the γ-ray array GAMMASPHERE in combination with the gas-detector array CHICO, and (iv) via a B11+Te130 fusion-evaporation reaction with the HORUS γ-ray array at the University of Cologne. The high-spin level schemesof Xe135 and Ba137 are considerably extended to higher energies. The 2058-keV (19/2-) state in Xe135 is identified as an isomer, closing a gap in the systematics along the N=81 isotones. Its half-life is measured to be 9.0(9) ns, corresponding to a reduced transition probability of B(E2,19/2-→15/2-)=0.52(6) W.u. The experimentally deduced reduced transition probabilities of the isomeric states are compared to shell-model predictions. Latest shell-model calculations reproduce the experimental findings generally well and provide guidance to the interpretation of the new levels.