Nuclear structure studies of 172Yb

A study has been made of excited states in 172Yb populated in the 170Er(α,2n)172Yb reaction using a bombarding energy of 19 MeV. The experimental information has been derived from gamma-ray singles, coincidence, angular distribution and conversion electron singles measurements. A Coulomb excitation experiment using alphas at projectile energies of 12 and 14 MeV produced measurements of six B(E2) and three B(E3) transitions to excited 2+ and 3- states respectively. The properties of 172Yb have been examined with particular attention being paid to departures from adiabatic rotational behaviour of the excited Ksup(π)=O+ band at 1043 keV and the Ksup(π)=1- octupole band at 1155 keV. Ml admixtures to the ΔI=O transitions between the band at 1043 keV and the ground-state band have been examined in an attempt to determine their source. EO strengths have also been measured for these transitions. (author)