Investigation of high-spin states in 38Ar

The high-spin states formed in 38Ar following the fusion of 14N, 16,18O, and 19F projectiles with targets of 26Mg, 27Al, and 28Si have been investigated. Angular distribution, linear polarization, and γ-γ coincidence data on the γ rays emitted by these states were utilized to construct a decay scheme for 38Ar, and to suggest probable spin-parity assignments for several new high-spin states. Results of lifetime measurements for several of these states are presented, and a comparison of the experimental level energies to the predictions of a simple weak-coupling calculation and a large-basis shell model calculation is given