Precision measurements of proton emission from the ground states of Ta-156 and Re-160

The decays of the pi d(3/2) ground states of Ta-156 and Re-160 have been studied in detail using the GREAT spectrometer. More than 7000 Re-160 nuclei were produced in reactions of 290- and 300-MeV Ni-58 ions with an isotopically enriched Cd-106 target and separated in flight using the RITU separator. The proton and alpha decays of the pi d(3/2) level were confirmed and the half-life and branching ratios of this state were determined with improved precision to be t(1/2) = 611 +/- 7 mu s and b(p) = 89 +/- 1% and b(alpha) = 11 +/- 1%, respectively. The alpha-decay branch populated the ground state of Ta-156, allowing improved values for the proton-decay energy and half-life to be obtained (E-p = 1011 +/- 5 keV; t(1/2) = 106 +/- 4 ms). The beta decay of this level was identified for the first time and a branching ratio of b(beta) = 29 +/- 3% was deduced. The spectroscopic factors deduced from these measurements are compared with predictions.