Neutron capture by the stable even-mass Te isotopes ($A=120$ to 130) produces in the neighboring odd-neutron isotopes a low-spin ground state ($1/2^{+}$ or $3/2^{+}$) and a high-spin ($11/2^{-}$) isomeric state. Following neutron irradiation of samples of Te of natural isotopic abundance, thermal cross sections and resonance integrals have been determined for all of the odd-mass radioactive ground states and isomers produced in the capture process. By comparing Cd-shielded and unshielded irradiations, it was possible to correct for the effect of capture by epithermal neutrons and so obtain consistent values for the thermal cross sections. Half-lives have been remeasured for ${}^{121g,m}$Te, ${}^{127m}$Te, and ${}^{131m}$Te. The previously observed systematic behavior of the thermal cross sections leading to the low-spin and high-spin states in Sn does not appear for the similar states in the Te isotopes.

• Received 6 August 2007

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.77.024303