The yrast superdeformed (SD) band in 84 Zr has been linked to states of normal deformation (ND) by three single-step γ decays. The spins and parity of the SD band were determined through angular distributions of two of these links. The properties of this band and its decay to ND states are compared with linked SD bands in other mass regions. SD intensity profiles, calculated SD-ND potential barriers, and results of a statistical-decay analysis suggest there is significant SD-ND mixing involved.

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... EXPERIMENTAL DETAILS AND RESULTS High-spin states in 84 Zr were populated via the 58 Ni( 32 S,α2p) reaction. A 140-MeV 32 S beam, provided by the 88" cyclotron at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, was directed onto a self-supporting 0.50-mg/cm 2 58 Ni target. The Gammasphere [3] and Microball [4] arrays were used to detect γ rays and charged particles, respectively. Gammasphere consisted of 102 Compton-suppressed HPGe detectors arranged in 16 rings of constant angle θ relative to the beam. A total of 2.2×10 9 events with γ-ray fold five or higher were recorded, along with any correlated Microball pulse-height and timing information. The efficiencies for detecting protons and α particles were ε p ≈ 80% and ε α ≈ 70%, respectively.