ALPHA-DECAY OF NEUTRON-DEFICIENT MERCURY ISOTOPES AND THEIR DAUGHTERS

Half-lives, decay energies and branching ratios have been measured for the α-decay of neutron- deficient mercury isotopes and their daughters. The lightest mercury isotope, 177Hg (Eα = 6.580 MeV), has a half-life of 0.17±0.05 sec. The heaviest observed α-emitter is 188Hg. Coincidences between α-particles and γ-rays were measured and weak transitions to excited states could be determined. The spectroscopic results are interpreted as evidence for rotational structure in the light odd-mass platinum isotopes. The existence of a pronounced even-odd variation in the Q-values for α-decay of mercury isotopes has been confirmed. © 1979.