Excited levels in the multishaped 117Pd nucleus studied via β decay of 117Rh

Monoisotopic samples of exotic, neutron-rich Rh-117 nuclei, produced in the proton-induced fission of U-238 and separated using the IGISOL mass separator coupled to the JYFLTRAP Penning trap, were used to perform beta and gamma coincidence spectroscopy of Pd-117. The spin parity of the ground state of Pd-117 was determined to be 1/2(+) and the 19.1 ms isomer at 203.2 keV was assigned a spin-parity 7/2(-). The Rh-117 beta(-)-decay scheme was considerably extended, and various sequences of the levels were interpreted as resulting from the prolate, oblate, and triaxial nuclear shapes. Some of the beta(-) decays were considered as the allowed Gamow-Teller transitions. The experimental distribution of Gamow-Teller strength is discussed.