Coulomb excitation of ${}^{68}$Ni at safe energies

Abstract

The $B(E2;0^{+}\to 2^{+})$ value in ${}^{68}$Ni has been measured using Coulomb excitation at safe energies. The ${}^{68}$Ni radioactive beam was post-accelerated at the ISOLDE facility (CERN) to 2.9 MeV/u. The emitted ${\hat{I}}^3$ rays were detected by the MINIBALL detector array. A kinematic particle reconstruction was performed in order to increase the measured c.m. angular range of the excitation cross section. The obtained value of 2.8${}_{-1.0}^{+1.2}$ 10${}^2$ e${}^2$fm${}^4$ is in good agreement with the value measured at intermediate energy Coulomb excitation, confirming the low $0^{+}\to 2^{+}$ transition probability.

4 pages, 5 figures