Fast-timing lifetime measurement of 152Gd

The lifetime tau(0(2)(+)) of Gd-152 has been measured using fast electronic scintillation timing (FEST) with an array of high-purity germanium (HPGe) and cerium-doped lanthanum bromide (LaBr3) detectors. Gd-152 was produced via an (alpha, n) reaction on a gold backed Sm-149 target. The measured lifetime of tau(0(2)(+)) = 96(6) ps corresponds to a reduced transition strength of B(E2; 0(2)(+)-> 2(1)(+)) = 111(7) W.u. and an E0 transition strength of rho(2)(E0) = 39(3) x 10(-3) to the ground state. This result provides experimental support for the validity of a correlation that would be a novel indicator for a quantum phase transition (QPT).