Rotational damping in ytterbium nuclei

Phys Rev Lett. 2002 Apr 8;88(14):142501. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.88.142501. Epub 2002 Mar 20.

Abstract

We have made the first clear measurements of rotational damping widths in nuclei. In a mixture of three Yb nuclei, these widths are 300 +/- 60 keV between 1.2 and 1.5 MeV gamma-ray energy [approximately (37-57)Planck's constant]. Compound damping and motional narrowing are discussed in connection with these results.