Complete β-decay study of deformed, odd-odd ^104,104mNb^*

Properties of deformed, neutron-rich nuclei in the A~110 mass region are essential ingredients in

the interpretation of r-process nucleosynthesis and fission-like applications where little is known

owing to difficulties in the production of these nuclei at existence RIB facilities.

Predicated on these ideas, we have initiated a dedicated decay spectroscopy experimental program

at Argonne National Laboratory, by combining the CARIBU facility with the newly developed

Gammasphere Decay Station. The initial focus was to study β- decays of ground state and excited

isomeric state of several deformed odd-odd nuclei that selectively populate a variety of structures

in the daughter nucleus.

In this work, we will present new results from time-correlated β-decay spectroscopy studies of the

ground state (6.1 (1) s) and isomer (0.89 (1) s) in the deformed ¹⁰⁴Nb nucleus. The new data will

be compared with predictions from multi-quasiparticle blocking calculations. Significant

differences in terms of beta-decay feeding pattern and the structure of the observed isomers with

recent measurements utilizing the Total Absorption Gamma-ray Spectroscopy technique will also

be discussed.