Electromagnetic transition probabilities in the natural-parity rotational band of 173Yb

The ground-state rotational band of 173Yb has been investigated through multiple Coulomb excitation with a beam of 250-MeV 58Ni. γ-ray branchings and E2/M1 mixing ratios were determined up to the (23/2)- state by measurements of γ-ray angular distributions and γ-γ angular correlations. Nuclear lifetimes of levels up to I=(25/2) have been measured using the Doppler-shift recoil-distance method. No significant signature dependence was observed for ΔI=1 M1 and E2 transition probabilities. The data are analyzed in terms of the rotating shell model and the differences between spin-up and spin-down orbitals are discussed