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Singular observation of shape and spin hindrance in metastable nuclear decay of $^{197}$Au

Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: A $I^π$ = (29/2$^{+}$) metastable state with $T_{1/2}$ $ > $ 10 s at $E_{x}$ = 2102 keV has been identified in the stable nucleus, $^{197}$Au. Its decay exhibits the unusual coexistence of a strongly hindered $E2$ transition and a competing $E4$ branch with comparable intensity, indicating the simultaneous presence of shape- and spin-related hindrance mechanisms. Such a decay pattern has not previously been identified in a long-lived nuclear state and serves as a sensitive probe of the interplay between shell structure, configuration mixing, and collective degrees of freedom. This result establishes an important benchmark for modern nuclear-structure models, for which a unified description of all observables remains challenging.
DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2610.25915
Authors: Tandel, S. K., Rathore, D., Hemalatha, M., Sahoo, Subhrajit, Srivastava, P. C., Chowdhury, P., Janssens, R. V. F., Kondev, F. G., Carpenter, M. P., Lauritsen, T., Seweryniak, D.
Institutions: University of Massachusetts Lowell, Shiv Nadar University, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, University of Mumbai, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Duke University, Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory
Language: English
Open Access status: green
Awards: G102163711, G1760870335, G2287611682, G2406556267, G262962599, G2896472831, G3681142727, STUDIES OF NUCLEAR PROCESSES., G4462628492, STUDIES OF NUCLEAR STRUCTURE USING NEUTRONS AND CHARGED PARTICLES, G498139845, G5572984593, G6359570598, SINGLE PARTICLE AND COLLECTIVEPHENOMENA IN NUCLEI, G6806410290, G6918803902, STUDIES OF NUCLAR STRUCTURE USING NEUTRONS AND CHARGED PARTICLES, SINGLE PARTICLE AND COLLECTIVE PHENOMENA IN NUCLEI, STUDIES OF NUCLEAR PROCESSES., G993149817
OpenAlex ID: W7223043832
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