Investigation of branching ratios between isomeric states of 154Tb

Half-lives and branching ratios of the three isomeric states of ¹⁵⁴Tb have been measured from irradiation of gadolinium with 45- and 65-MeV protons. The spin assignments 7±, 3±, and 0± previously suggested were confirmed as representing the m₂, m₁, and g states, respectively. The branching from the m₂ to m₁ isomers was found to be weak, approximately 1.8 ± 0.6%. Branching from the m₁ to g state was quite substantial, measured to be 21.8 ± 0.7%.