Structure of the N=50 As, Ge, Ga nuclei

The level structures of the N=5083As, 82Ge, and 81Ga isotones have been investigated by means of multi-nucleon transfer reactions. A first experiment was performed with the CLARA–PRISMA setup to identify these nuclei. A second experiment was carried out with the GASP array in order to deduce the γ-ray coincidence information. The results obtained on the high-spin states of such nuclei are used to test the stability of the N=50 shell closure in the region of 78Ni (Z=28). The comparison of the experimental level schemes with the shell-model calculations yields an N=50 energy gap value of 4.7(3) MeV at Z=28. This value, in a good agreement with the prediction of the finite-range liquid-drop model as well as with the recent large-scale shell model calculations, does not support a weakening of the N=50 shell gap down to Z=28.