Extensive γ-ray spectroscopy of normally and superdeformed structures in ⁶¹₂₉Cu₃₂

A largely extended experimental knowledge of the ⁶¹ ₂₉Cu₃₂ nucleus has been obtained from three experiments. Excited states in ⁶¹Cu were produced via the fusion-evaporation reaction ²⁸Si(³⁶Ar, 3p)⁶¹Cu . In addition to the Ge array GAMMASPHERE, neutron and charged-particle detectors placed around the target position were used for high-performance particle spectroscopy. The constructed level scheme includes more than 160 energy levels and 320 γ-ray transitions belonging to both normally deformed as well as superdeformed rotational structures. The multipolarities have been determined for the γ-ray transitions and as a result spin-parity assignments are given for nearly all energy levels. Experimental results in the normally deformed region are compared with predictions from large-scale shell model calculations. The collective structures are compared with results from cranked Nilsson-Strutinsky calculations. The results reveal the need to modify the standard Nilsson parameters in the mass A ∼ 60 region.