Half-life of the Iπ=4− intruder state in 34P: M2 transition strengths approaching the island of inversion

The half-life of the 2305-keV, Iπ=4(−) intruder state in 34P has been measured as t1/2=2.0(1) ns using γ-ray coincidence, fast-timing techniques with the Bucharest HPGe and LaBr3:Ce detector array. Excited states in 34P were populated using the 18O(18O,pn)34P fusion-evaporation reaction at a beam energy of 36 MeV. Reduced transition probabilities have been calculated for different values of the M2/E3 mixing ratio, δE3/M2, and compared with shell-model estimates. For small values of the mixing ratio, the B(M2) value was found to be consistent with similar transitions associated with the occupation of neutron f7/2 configurations in this mass region.