In-Beam Gamma-Ray Spectroscopy Of Fe-68 From Charge Exchange On Co-68 Projectiles

Excited states in the neutron-rich nucleus Fe-68 were populated using a Be-9(Co-68, Fe-68 +gamma)X charge-exchange reaction at 95 MeV/u. The new gamma-ray transitions reported here for the first time complement data from beta-decay studies and nucleon knockout reactions. In comparison to shell-model calculations with the LNPS effective interaction, two candidate states for the 6(1)(+) level emerge. The distinct population pattern of excited states and the magnitude of the cross section, sigma(inc) = 0.51( 6) mb, make this reaction a promising one for future in-beam gamma-ray spectroscopy. Reaction calculations with nuclear structure input from a new, locally optimized Hamiltonian, f7 j4 alpha, together with general considerations for heavy-ion-induced charge-exchange reactions appear consistent with most of the observations, although challenges remain.