Competition between proton and neutron excitations in 96Zr

The g factors of the 2(1)(+) and 3(1)(-) states in Zr-96 have been measured for the first time by Coulomb excitation of Zr-96 beams in inverse kinematics using transient magnetic fields. The resulting g factors are g(2(1)(+)) = +0.03(7) and g(3(1)(-)) = +0.98(15). The lifetime of the 2(1)(+) state, r = 0.82(10) ps, was redetermined via the Doppler Shift Attenuation Method. The 2(1)(+) --> 0(1)(+) transition rate and the g-factor data are in fair agreement with shell-model calculations involving both proton and neutron excitations. The pronounced octupole strength of the 3(1)(-) --> 0(1)(+) transition is not seen in the g factor which exceeds significantly an expected Z/A value. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.