E2 And E3 Transitions From Quadrupole-Octupole Coupled States In Nd-144

Lifetime measurements of the 3(1)-, 5(1)-, and 1(1)- states in Nd-144 show that the absolute E2 and E3 transition rates from the 5(1)- and 1(1)- states are consistent with their structure being formed by the coupling of the lowest quadrupole (2(1)+) and octupole (3(1)-) excitations. A level at 2205 keV has been identified as having J(pi) = 4- and may be another member of this quadrupole-octupole coupled quintuplet. The energy spacing of the quintuplet can be explained by anharmonicities in the quadrupole-octupole interaction and the influence of the nu2(2f7/2, 1i13/2) configuration.