8543-keV6+State inSi28and the Ground-State Rotational Band

Abstract
Evidence for the existence of a ground-state rotational band in the nucleus Si28 has been rounded out by a lifetime measurement of the 8543-keV 6+ level. Using the 2203-keV resonance in the Al27(p,γ)Si28 reaction, and the Doppler-shift attenuation technique, 18 ± 6 fsec is found for the mean life of the 6+ state. It follows that the strength of the 6+4+ 3926-keV transition is 9.4 ± 3.0 Weisskopf units (W.u.), in good agreement with theoretical predictions. This measurement removes objections that arose from an earlier result of 2.9 W.u. for the 6+4+ transition strength.