Yrast decay schemes from heavy ion +Ca48fusion-evaporation reactions. I.Mn54−56,Cr56, andV52−53

Fusion-evaporation reactions induced by a beam of 25-50 MeV ${}_{}{}^{11}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{B}$ on an isotopically enriched ${}_{}{}^{48}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Ca}$ target have been used to populate high-spin yrast levels in ${}_{}{}^{54-56}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Mn}$, ${}_{}{}^{56}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Cr}$, and ${}_{}{}^{52-53}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{V}$. Measurements consisted of $\gamma$- ray excitation functions, angular distributions, $\gamma -\gamma$ coincidences, and recoil-distance and Doppler shift lifetime measurements, from which were deduced the energy levels, $\gamma$-ray branching ratios, most probable spin-parity assignments, and level lifetimes.