LIFETIME MEASUREMENTS IN XE-120

Lifetimes for the lowest three transitions in the nucleus Xe-120 have been measured using the recoil distance technique. Our data indicate t hat the lifetime for the 2(1)(+)-->0(1)(+) transition is more than a f actor of 2 lower than the previously adopted value and is in agreement with more recent measurements performed on this nucleus. The theoreti cal implications of this discrepancy and the possible reason for the e rroneous earlier results are discussed. All measured lifetimes in Xe-1 20, as well as the systematics of the lifetimes of the 2(1)(+) states in Xe isotopes, are compared with predictions of various models. The a vailable data are described well by the fermion dynamic symmetry model (FDSM).