Lifetime of the 61+ state in Nd-144

Using a comparative delayed coincidence technique the lifetime of the 6{sub 1}{sup +} level in {sup 144}Nd has been measured as {tau}=30{+-}3 ps, leading to a B(E2;6{sub 1}{sup +}{yields}4{sub 1}{sup +}) value of 25{+-}3 W.u. This value is almost a factor of 3 less than that expected for a purely collective three-phonon state, but is in agreement with particle-core coupling calculations that predict significant noncollective L=4 and L=6 components in the 4{sup +} and 6{sup +} yrast state wave functions.