Proton excitations across the Z = 64 gap in the doubly magic superdeformed nucleus 144Gd

Abstract Five superdeformed (SD) bands have been identified in 144 Gd with the GASP array using the reaction 100 Mo + 48 Ti . The J (2) moments of inertia of the four excited SD bands are flat as a function of rotational frequency, indicating the blocking of the N = 6 proton crossing observed in the yrast SD band. According to cranked shell model calculations, the excited bands have two-quasiproton configurations with one proton in the N = 6 orbital and the other in each signature partner of the [404]9 2 + or [411]3 2 + orbitals, lying above the Z = 64 gap. The interpretation of the excited SD bands in terms of proton excitations points to the high stability of the N = 80 shell closure at SD shapes. The population of the yrast SD band as a function of the beam energy has been also investigated. Our data shows that the intensity of the yrast SD band is not configuration dependent, being comparable to that of yrast SD bands in the neighboring nuclei. By comparing experimental and theoretical alignments, spins and configurations are assigned to all observed SD bands in the A = 140–150 region.