Probing sd-fp Cross-Shell Interactions via Terminating Configurations in 42,43Sc

Abstract

An experimental study of the lower fp-shell nuclei 42,43Sc was performed via {alpha}pn and {alpha}p evaporation, respectively, from 20Ne + 28Si and 24Mg + 24Mg fusion-evaporation reactions. The experiments were conducted with the Gammasphere and Microball detector arrays. The level schemes of both nuclei have been extended considerably. Terminating states associated with the fn7/2 and d−13/2fn+17/2 configurations were identified in each nuclide, and incorporated into detailed comparisons with neighboring nuclei and with shell model calculations. The energy differences between the terminating states provide a test of the sd−fp cross-shell interactions in these calculations.