The beta decay of 192,190Pb has been studied using the total absorption
technique at the ISOLDE(CERN) facility. The beta-decay strength deduced from
the measurements, combined with QRPA theoretical calculations, allow us to
infer that the ground states of the 192,190Pb isotopes are spherical.
These results represent the first application of the shape determination method
using the total absorption technique for heavy nuclei and in a region where
there is considerable interest in nuclear shapes and shape effects