Structure of Neutron-rich N = 126 Closed Shell Nuclei

A series of experiments devoted to the study of the neutron‐rich N∼426 region have been performed at GSI, Darmstadt, within the Rare Isotopes Investigations at GSI (RISING) project. The highlights of the experimental results from these highly successful experiments include the first observation of excited states in three neutron‐rich N = 126 closed shell nuclei: (i) In 205Au79 the conversion electron decay of the πh11/2−1 seconds lived isomeric state into the πd3/2−1 ground‐state has been observed. In addition the yrast structure has been established up to spin‐parity (19/2+) via the observation of the decay of an isomeric state with configuration π(h11/2−1)10(s1/2−1); (ii) In 204Pt78, the yrast sequence has been observed following the internal decay of Iπ = (5−), (7−) and (10+) isomeric states; (iii) In 203Ir77 excited states have been observed following the decay of an isomeric state with structure ’similar’ to that in its 205Au isotone. Shell model calculations have been performed in order to get a dee...