Identification of a new isotope Hf-186

The new neutron-rich isotope Hf-186 has been produced through a multinucleo n transfer reaction by irradiation of natural tungsten targets with 60 MeV/ u O-18 projectiles. The Hf-186 activities were separated radiochemically fr om the tungsten and reaction product mixture. The gamma-ray singles spectra were measured with a high resolution HPGe detector. The new isotope Hf-186 was identified based on the growth and decay of 737.5keV gamma rays from t he beta(-) decay of its daughter Ta-186. Its half-life has been determined to be 2.6 +/- 1.2 min.