Measurements consisting of γ-ray excitation functions and angular distributions have been performed using the (n, n ′ γ) reaction on 62 Ni. The excitation function data allowed us to check the consistency of the placement of transitions in the level scheme. From γ-ray angular distributions, the lifetimes of levels up to ∼ 3.8 MeV in excitation energy have been extracted with the Doppler-shift attenuation method. The experimentally deduced values of reduced transition probabilities have been compared with the predictions of the quadrupole vibrator model and with large-scale shell model calculations in the f p shell configuration space. Two-phonon states have been found to exist with some notable deviation from the predictions of the quadrupole vibrator model, but no evidence for the existence of three-phonon states could be established. Z = 28 proton core excitations play a major role in understanding the observed structure.

Nuclear reactions where an exotic nucleus captures a neutron are critical for a wide variety of applications, from energy production and national security, to astrophysical processes, and nucleosynthesis. Neutron capture rates are well constrained near stable isotopes where experimental data are available; however, moving far from the valley of stability, uncertainties grow by orders of magnitude. This is due to the complete lack of experimental constraints, as the direct measurement of a neutron-capture reaction on a short-lived nucleus is extremely challenging. Here, we report on the first experimental extraction of a neutron capture reaction rate on ^{69}Ni, a nucleus that is five neutrons away from the last stable isotope of Ni. The implications of this measurement on nucleosynthesis around mass 70 are discussed, and the impact of similar future measurements on the understanding of the origin of the heavy elements in the cosmos is presented.

Low-lying multiphonon states in 136 Ba have been populated with the inelastic neutron scattering reaction. Excitation functions were performed at neutron energies from 2.2 to 3.9 MeV, and γ -ray angular distributions were measured at 2.5, 3.0, and 3.5 MeV. Lifetimes have been determined using the Doppler-shift attenuation method, and electromagnetic transition rates have been deduced. The previously assigned 2 + 1,ms mixed-symmetry state at 2128.9 keV has been confirmed and is not greatly fragmented. For the first time in the N = 80 isotones, a 3 + 2,ms two-phonon mixed-symmetry state is proposed. In addition, the 2 + 5 and the 4 + 3 levels at 2222.7 and 2356.4 keV, respectively, decay with large B(M1) values to the two-phonon 2 + 2 and 4 + 1 states, respectively, which suggests two-phonon mixed-symmetric character. Their excitation energies, however, are not consistent with this interpretation.

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