α decay of 180,181Pb

A detailed α-decay study of the neutron-deficient isotope 181 Pb has been performed in the complete fusion reaction 40 Ca+ 144 Sm → 184 Pb* at the velocity filter SHIP (GSI, Darmstadt). In comparison with the literature, more precise data have been deduced for the I π = (9/2-) ground state in this nucleus, which is presumably based on the neutron νh 9/2 spherical orbital. Improved α-decay data were also measured for 180 Pb.