Levels ofNd146from the Decay ofPr146

A 24-min radioistope of ${\mathrm{Pr}}^{146}$ was produced by the ${\mathrm{Nd}}^{146}(n, p){\mathrm{Pr}}^{146}$ reaction. Beta and gamma rays of ${\mathrm{Pr}}^{146}$ were investigated with scintillation spectrometers and coincidence techniques. Analysis of the singles and coincidence spectra indicate gamma rays of energies 0.11, 0.455, 0.59, 0.74, 0.78, 0.92, 1.02, 1.16, 1.26, 1.34, 1.37, 1.51, 1.66, 1.72, 1.96, 2.23, 2.39, and 2.73 MeV. From the relative intensities of the gamma rays and the beta-gamma coincidence spectra, the branching ratios of the beta rays and the $log\mathrm{ft}$ values are calculated. A decay scheme consistent with the experimental data is presented. The low-lying states of ${\mathrm{Nd}}^{146}$ are compared with those of neighboring ${\mathrm{Sm}}^{148}$ and ${\mathrm{Sm}}^{150}$ nuclei.