Inelastic electron scattering from low-lying states in the nuclei 36Ar and 40Ar

The low-lying level structure of 36Ar and 40Ar has been investigated using the technique of inelastic electron scattering. Data were collected at the National Bureau of Standards Linear Accelerator with incident electron energies between 65 and 115 MeV and scattering angles of 92.50 and 1100. The data span a range of momentum transfer squared between 0.29 and 0.92 fm-2. Tassie model and Helm model analyses have been applied to data for levels at 1.97 and 4.18 MeV in 36Ar and at 1.46, 2.52, 3.21 and 3.68 MeV in 40Ar. A 2+ assignment to the 3.21 MeV state in 40Ar is suggested. Transition strengths, transition radii, and mean lifetimes for these states are computed and compared with results of previous experiments. (Auth.)