Shape-changing particle decays of 185Bi and structure of the lightest odd-mass Bi isotopes -: art. no. 054308

Proton and alpha decay of the proton-rich nuclide Bi-185 has been restudied in more detail in the complete fusion reaction Nb-93(Mo-95, 3n)Bi-185 at the velocity filter SHIP. The observed decay pattern of Bi-185 and of the heavier odd-mass isotopes Bi-187,Bi-189,Bi-191,Bi-193 are interpreted based on potential-energy surface calculations. It is shown that the experimental systematics of the particle decays and of the excited states in these nuclei (where known) can be explained by the prolate-oblate shape co-existence at low excitation energy. The observed state in Bi-185 is proposed to be of prolate nature, which is in contrast with the previously proposed oblate interpretation.