In-beam γ-ray study of the neutron-rich nuclei 240U, 246Pu, and 250Cm produced by the (18O, 16O) reaction

We have measured deexcitation γ rays in the neutron-rich nuclei of 240U, 246Pu, and 250Cm produced by the (18O, 16O) two-neutron transfer reactions, in coincidence with the 16O particles using Si ΔE−E detectors. The γ rays in these nuclei were identified by selecting the kinetic energies of 16O particles, which correspond to the excitation energies in the residual nuclei below the neutron separation energies. The ground-state bands of 240U, 246Pu, and 250Cm were established up to 12+ states and the Kπ = 0− octupole band of 240U was established up to 9− states. The systematics of the moments of inertia of the ground-state bands for actinide nuclei shows that the deformed subshell closure at N = 152 is sustained for 96Cm isotopes and that it disappears for 94Pu isotopes.