Selective excitations ofα-cluster states inNd150

The $\alpha$-cluster pickup reaction ${}_{}{}^{154}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Sm}(d, {}_{}{}^6{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Li}){}_{}{}^{150}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Nd}$ has been investigated at $E_d=33\mathrm{}$ MeV. The observed spectra are dominated by transitions to the $0^{+}$, $2^{+}$, and $4^{+}$ members of the ground state rotational band in ${}_{}{}^{150}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Nd}$ and by transitions to newly observed states at $E_x=2050\mathrm{}\pm 25, 2225\pm 25, \mathrm{and} 2460\pm 25$ keV. Spin-parity assignments for the latter group of states are compatible with $0^{+}$, $2^{+}$, and $4^{+}$. The summed reduced $\alpha$ width for this group of excited states, presumably a rotational band, is approximately equal to that for the ground state rotational band. The presence of strongly excited $\alpha$-cluster states at low excitation energy in the deformed nucleus ${}_{}{}^{150}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Nd}$, while not understood, is similar to the situation observed in the deformed actinide nuclei ${}_{}{}^{228}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Ra}$ and ${}_{}{}^{234}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Th}$.