Spectroscopic investigation of 164,168Ta, 166,W and 164,165Hf

Abstract Using reactions induced by beams of 36 Ar and 40 Ar in targets of 133 CsCI and 136 BaF 2 , the half-lives of 164,168 Ta, 166 W, and 164,165 Hf were measured to be 14.9 (2) s, 2.0 (l) min, 18.8 (4) s, 111 (8) s, and 76 (4) s, respectively. The β-decay of 166 W is reported for the first time, yielding an α-decay branch of 0.03 (1)%. Decay schemes were derived and are discussed by comparison with nuclear structure calculations.