Structure of low-lying states in Te116

Low-lying excited levels in ¹¹⁶Te were studied by measuring level lifetimes with the recoil-distance Doppler-shift method in the ¹¹²Sn(¹²C,⁸Be)¹¹⁶Te4pt0exα-transfer reaction and angular correlations following the β decay of ¹¹⁶I. Both experiments were performed at the Cologne FN Tandem accelerator. Several new levels were discovered below 3.2 MeV excitation energy, spins and multipole mixing ratios were determined via angular correlations. Lifetimes were measured for the 2₁⁺, 0₂⁺, 2₂⁺, and 4₁⁺ and upper limits for lifetimes were determined for higher lying levels. The experimental findings are compared to calculations in the U(5) limit of the interacting boson model and are also discussed in the framework of shape coexistence which is expected in midshell Te isotopes.