Nuclear level densities and {gamma}-ray strength functions in {sup 44,45}Sc

The scandium isotopes {sup 44,45}Sc were studied with the {sup 45}Sc({sup 3}He, {alpha}{gamma}){sup 44}Sc and {sup 45}Sc({sup 3}He, {sup 3}He{sup '}{gamma}){sup 45}Sc reactions, respectively. The nuclear level densities and {gamma}-ray strength functions have been extracted using the Oslo method. The experimental level densities are compared to calculated level densities obtained from a microscopic model based on BCS quasiparticles within the Nilsson level scheme. This model also gives information about the parity distribution and the number of broken Cooper pairs as a function of excitation energy. The experimental {gamma}-ray strength functions are compared to theoretical models of the E1, M1, and E2 strength and to data from ({gamma}, n) and ({gamma},p) experiments. The strength functions show an enhancement at low {gamma} energies that cannot be explained by the present standard models.