Superdeformation and double blocking inEu142

Abstract

A superdeformed band of twenty transitions has been found in ${}_{}{}^{142}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Eu}$ following the reaction ${}_{}{}^{110}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Pd}$ ${(}^{37}$Cl,5n${)}^{142}$Eu at 160 MeV. This is the first case to be found intermediate to the A∼135 and A∼150 regions. The ${\mathit{scrI}}^{\mathrm{}\left(2\right)\mathrm{}}$ dynamic moment of inertia remains remarkably constant, suggesting that the configuration is π$6^1$ν$6^3$, blocking both proton and neutron band crossings. The band has been estimated to have ∼3.6% of the channel intensity. This is remarkably intense, and is possibily due to a lowering of the odd-odd configuration by a strong residual n-p correlation.