Low-lying isomeric states in 169Ta

Two low-lying isomeric states in 169Ta have been identified via 159Tb(16O,6nγ)169Ta reaction. Their half-lives are measured to be 28 ± 5 ns for the 9/2− level and 17 ± 4 ns for the 5/2− level by using the delayed γ-γ coincidence method. These two isomeric states are considered to be the bandheads with 9/2−[514] and 1/2−[541] configurations respectively.