Blocking Effect In The 16(+)-]16(+) (P,T) Transition On The Isomeric Hf-178(M2) Target

The availability of a target of Hf-178 in its aligned four-quasiparticle, J(pi) = 16+ isomeric state, has allowed to measure the effect of blocking of the aligned-quasineutron orbitals in the (p, t) reaction. The experimental ratio of cross sections R = sigma(16+ --> 16+) /sigma(0+ --> 0+) agrees with a predicted value deduced from the known (p, t) cross section on odd Hf isotopes.