Low-energy level structures of neutron-rich Co, Fe, and Mn nuclei near $\emph{N}$ = 40

The region around $\emph{N}$ = 40 below Ni is currently an active area both experimentally and theoretically in an attempt to understand the rapid development of collectivity below $^{68}$Ni as protons are removed from the f$_{7/2}$ single-particle state. The dramatic drop in the energy of the first excited 2$^{+}$ states and increase in the B(E2) values in even-even nuclei along the Fe and Cr isotopic chains has been well documented. The theoretical reproduction of the experimental trends indicates the increasing influence of the neutron g$_{9/2}$ single particle state as $\emph{N}$ = 40 is approached. The increased occupancy of the neutron g$_{9/2}$ single-particle level drives the nuclei below Ni towards deformed structures evidenced by the presence of low-energy isomeric states in nuclei with $\emph{N}$ $<$ 40 and the drop in the energy of the yrast 9/2$^{+}$ states in the neutron-rich Fe nuclei. Recently, investigations have been able to access the rich low-energy level schemes of odd-A and odd-odd nuclei along $\emph{N}$ = 40 and assign tentative spins and parities. The spin and parity assignments of these nuclei can serve as a signature of the underlying neutron and proton configurations and complement information obtained from neighboring even-even nuclei. For example, a low-energy 1/2$^{-}$ isomeric state in $^{67}$Co was taken as evidence of deformed proton states immediately below $^{68}$Ni. To further explore this region, in particular the neutron states, the low-energy level structures of the odd-odd Co, Mn and odd-A Fe isotopes were studied through the beta-decay of the respective Fe, Cr, and Mn isotopes. The inferred level schemes based on both beta-delayed and isomeric gamma ray transitions of the odd-odd Co and Mn nuclei straddling $\emph{N}$ = 40 will be presented.