Particle-core Coupling in the Transitional Proton Emitters 145, 146, 147 Tm

Excited states in 3 transitional proton emitters 145, 146, 147Tm were studied using the Gammasphere Ge array coupled with the Argonne Fragment Mass Analyzer. The 147Tm level scheme was extended and the unfavored signature partner of the decoupled proton h11/2 band was found. A rotational band feeding the high-spin isomer in 146Tm was observed with properties similar to the 147Tm ground-state band. A regular sequence of γ rays correlated with the ground-state 145Tm proton decay has properties of the h11/2 band as well. In addition, coincidences between the fine structure proton line and the 2+ → 0+ γ-ray transition in the daughter nucleus were detected. Comparison between level energies measured and calculated using the Particle Rotor model indicates that 145Tm might be γ-soft.