The new nuclide ${}^{186}$Hf has been produced via a multinucleon transfer reaction between 60 MeV/nucleon ${}^{18}$O ions and a natural tungsten target in a net result of an exchange of two target protons for two projectile neutrons, i.e., ${(}^{186}\mathrm{W}-2p+2n).$ Sources of ${}^{186}$Hf prepared by radiochemical separation have been studied. The growth and decay of ${}^{186}$Ta $\gamma$ rays has been observed, identifying the ${}^{186}$Ta parent as ${}^{186}$Hf. The half-life of ${}^{186}$Hf has been determined to be 2.6$\pm$1.2 min.

• Received 22 October 1997

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.57.1506