New states in heavy Cd isotopes and evidence for weakening of the N=82 shell structure

A chemically selective laser ion source has been used in a beta -decay study of heavy Ag isotopes into even-even Cd nuclides. Gamma-spectroscopic techniques in time-resolving event-by-event and multiscaling modes have permitted the identification of the first 2(+) and 4(+) levels in Cd-126(78), Cd-128(80), and tentatively the 2(+) state in Cd-130(82). From a comparison of these new states in Cd-48 with the E(2(+)) and E(4(+))/E(2(+)) level systematics of Pd-46 and Te-52 isotopes and several recent model predictions, possible evidence for a weakening of the spherical N = 82 neutron-shell below double-magic Sn-132 is obtained.