Level structure in Nd-143 - art. no. 014303

The high-spin states of Nd-143 have been studied in the Te-130(O-18,5n)Nd-1 43 reaction at a beam energy of 80 MeV using techniques of In-beam gamma-ra y spectroscopy. Measurements of gamma-gamma-t coincidences, gamma-ray angul ar distributions, and gamma-ray linear polarizations were performed. A leve l scheme of Nd-143 With spin and parity assignments up to 53/2(+) is propos ed, including a high-lying isomer with a measured half-life of 35+/-8 ns. W hile a weak coupling model can explain the level structure up to the J(pi)= 39/2(-) state, this model cannot reproduce the higher-lying states. The cha racteristics of the high-spin isomer, as well as the level structure in Nd- 143, were also stressed with a deformed independent particle model.