The ${}_{}{}^{76}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Ge}(t, p){}_{}{}^{78}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Ge}$ reaction has been performed at a bombarding energy of 17 MeV. Thirteen excited states below 3 MeV excitation are reported with $J^{\pi }$ values obtained by comparison to distorted-wave Born-approximation analysis. A comparison to a dynamical deformation theory is made and the results suggest ${}_{}{}^{78}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Ge}$ is a transitional nucleus nearing spherical shape due to the proximity of the $N=50\mathrm{}$ closed shell.

NUCLEAR REACTIONS ${}_{}{}^{76}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Ge}(t, p)$, $E=17\mathrm{}$ MeV; measured $\sigma (E_p, \theta )$ ${}_{}{}^{78}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Ge}$ deduced levels, $J^{\pi }$, measured ${}_{}{}^{78}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Ge}$ atomic mass DWBA analysis, magnetic spectrograph.

• Received 15 February 1978

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.18.1201