Collectivity evolution in the neutron-rich Pd isotopes toward the N=82 shell closure

The neutron-rich, even-even 122,124,126Pd isotopes has been studied via in-beam gamma-ray spectroscopy at the RIKEN Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory. Excited states at 499(9), 590(11), and 686(17) keV were found in the three isotopes, which we assign to the respective 2+ -> 0+ decays. In addition, a candidate for the 4+ state at 1164(20) keV was observed in 122Pd. The resulting Ex(2+) systematics are essentially similar to those of the Xe (Z=54) isotopic chain and theoretical prediction by IBM-2, suggesting no serious shell quenching in the Pd isotopes in the vicinity of N=82.