16(+) Spin-Gap Isomer in (96)Cd

A beta-decaying high-spin isomer in (96)Cd, with a half-life T(1/2) = 0.29(-0.10)(+0.11) s, has been established in a stopped beam rare isotope spectroscopic investigations at GSI (RISING) experiment. The nuclei were produced using the fragmentation of a primary beam of (124)Xe on a (9)Be target. From the half-life and the observed gamma decays in the daughter nucleus, (96)Ag, we conclude that the beta-decaying state is the long predicted 16(+) "spin-gap'' isomer. Shell-model calculations, using the Gross-Frenkel interaction and the pi nu(p(1/2,)g(9/2)) model space, show that the isoscalar component of the neutron-proton interaction is essential to explain the origin of the isomer. Core excitations across the N = Z = 50 gaps and the Gamow-Teller strength, Bd(GT) distributions have been studied via large-scale shell-model calculations using the pi nu(g, d, s) model space to compare with the experimental B(GT) value obtained from the half-life of the isomer.