Even-$A$ Pd nuclei were studied using the reactions ${}_{}{}^{92,94,96}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Zr}({}_{}{}^{13}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{C},3n\gamma ){}_{}{}^{102,104,106}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Pd}$. The experiments included $\gamma$-ray yield as a function of energy, $\gamma$-ray angular distributions, $\gamma$-ray linear polarizations, and $\gamma -\gamma$ coincidence measurements. A new treatment of $\gamma -\gamma$ directional correlation from oriented nuclei, which combines data from all appropriate coincidence pairs to reduce uncertainties, has aided in determining multipolarities for 49 contaminated transitions. Extensive decay schemes are presented which include many high-angular-momentum, positive- and negative-parity states. In addition to the ground-state band, there appear to be three collective bands built on excited two-quasiparticle states. The measurements favor a slightly deformed rotor description of these nuclei over an interpretation in terms of a vibrational (interacting boson) model.

NUCLEAR STRUCTURE ${}_{}{}^{92,94,96}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Zr}({}_{}{}^{13}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{C},3n\gamma )$ $E=45-56\mathrm{}$ MeV; measured $I_{\gamma }\left(E\right({}_{}{}^{13}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{C}\left)\right)$, $I_{\gamma }\left(\theta \right)$, $\gamma \gamma$ coin, $\gamma \gamma$ DCO, $P_{\gamma }$. ${}_{}{}^{102,104,106}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Pd}$ deduced levels, $J$, $\pi$, $\gamma$ multipolarity.

• Received 29 March 1976

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.14.2297