Gamma-ray spectroscopy of superdeformed states in the nucleus 152Dy

A gamma -ray spectroscopic study of the high spin states of the nucleus 152Dy has been performed using the reaction 108Pd(48Ca,4n)152Dy at a bombarding energy of 205 MeV. Gamma rays were detected using the TESSA3 multi-detector array. A set of discrete-line states forming a rotational band has been observed in the data and has been shown to extend up to a spin of around 60h(cross) and an excitation energy of about 30 MeV. The gamma -ray energy data are consistent with dynamic moment of inertia F(2) of (85+or-3)h(cross)2 MeV-1, indicating a large quadrupole deformation. A measurement of the collectivity of the band has been made using the Doppler shift attenuation method, with the data for the lower spin states yielding a quadrupole moment of Q0=(18+or-3) e b.