Nuclear Spectroscopy of Neutron-Deficient Lu, Ta, and Re Isotopes

The systematic behavior of nuclear energy levels has been studied with Lu ($Z=71\mathrm{}$), Ta ($Z=73\mathrm{}$), and Re ($Z=75\mathrm{}$) activities produced in the ORNL proton cyclotron. Conversion-electron data are presented for electron-capture decay of ${\mathrm{Lu}}^{170,174m}$, ${\mathrm{Ta}}^{173-178}$, and ${\mathrm{Re}}^{179,181}$. Level schemes are proposed based on these and on previously published transition data for ${\mathrm{Lu}}^{169,171}$. The properties of odd-$A$ nuclei in the strongly deformed region of odd-$N$ numbers 95-107 are discussed in connection with predictions of Mottelson and Nilsson. Two activities, ${\mathrm{Lu}}^{174m}$ and ${\mathrm{Re}}^{179}$ (∼20 min), are previously unreported.