LIFETIMES OF THE SUPERDEFORMED BAND IN HG-192

Lifetimes of states in the superdeformed band in 192Hg have been measu red using the Doppler-shift attenuation and the recoil-distance method s for the high-spin and the low-spin regions, respectively. Line shape s and decay curves were obtained from high-fold gamma-ray coincidence spectra measured with the EUROGAM array. The transition quadrupole mom ents, derived from the lifetimes, are constant with an average value o f Q(t) = 18.6 b down to the bottom of the band where it decays to the normal states. This suggests that the superdeformed potential-energy m inimum is still present at that point and that the decay proceeds by t unneling.