Single-neutron orbits near isotope 79Zn
Phys. Lett. B
Single-neutron states in the Z = 30, N = 49 isotope 79Zn have been populated using the 78Zn(d, p)79Zn
transfer reaction at REX-ISOLDE, CERN. The experimental setup allowed the combined detection of
protons ejected in the reaction, and of γ rays emitted by 79Zn. The analysis reveals that the lowest
excited states populated in the reaction lie at approximately 1 MeV of excitation, and involve neutron
orbits above the N = 50 shell gap. From the analysis of γ -ray data and of proton angular distributions,
characteristic of the amount of angular momentum transferred, a 5/2+ configuration was assigned to a
state at 983 keV. Comparison with large-scale-shell-model calculations supports a robust neutron N = 50
shell-closure for 78Ni. These data constitute an important step towards the understanding of the magicity
of 78Ni and of the structure of nuclei in the region.