GRID lifetime measurements in ⁵⁹, ⁶¹, ⁶³Ni following thermal neutron capture

The GRID-method has been used to measure the life-times of ten excited states in Ni-59, Ni-61, Ni-63 following thermal neutron capture in Ni targets of natural isotopic composition. Four of the lifetimes have been determined for the first time, the other six lifetimes can be compared with the results of conventional DSA-measurements following charged particle induced reactions. Cascade feeding effects have been included in the analysis. Level energies and electromagnetic properties of negative parity states in Ni-59 have been compared with the results of shell model calculations in 3p 0h and 4p 1h model spaces. Statistical model estimates of the lifetimes as function of excitation energy and spin are also given