Nuclear structure of 229Th

Lifetimes of excited states in Th-229, populated in the beta decay of Ac-229, have been measured using the advanced time-delayed beta gamma gamma(t) method. Half-lives of 14 states have been determined including 11 of them for the first time. Twenty-seven new gamma lines have been introduced into the beta-decay scheme of Ac-229 based on results of gamma gamma coincidence measurements. Reduced transition probabilities have been determined for more than 70 gamma transitions in Th-229. Average parallel to D-0 parallel to values of 0.029(1), 0.077(3), and 0.024(5) e fm have been deduced for the lowest K-pi=1/2(+/-),3/2(+/-), and 5/2(+/-) parity partner bands, respectively. Excited states in Th-229 and experimental transition rates have been interpreted within the quasiparticle-plus-phonon model. The half-life of the 3.5-eV, 3/2(+) isomeric state is predicted to be about 10 h. Potential energy surfaces on the (beta(2),beta(3)) plane for the lowest single quasiparticle configurations in Th-229 have been calculated using the Strutinsky method.