LIFETIME OF FIRST EXCITED STATE OF P32

The mean life of the first excited state of P32(77 keV, 2+) has been measured to be (5.2+0.9-0.5)×10-10sec. The state was formed by the P31(d,p)P32 reaction. The time differences between the detection of a proton in a solid-state detector and a 77-keV ray in a NaI (Tl) crystal were measured. The prompt time distribution was obtained in a similar way using the transition between the second and first excited states of Na24 excited by the Na23(d,p)Na24 reaction. The data were analyzed using the third-moment method. An upper limit of 5×10-10 sec was obtained for the mean life of the second excited state of Na24. The result obtained for P32 indicates that pure j-j coupling is not an adequate description for the two lowest states in this nucleus. © 1968 The American Physical Society.