In-beam γ-ray spectroscopy and inclusive two-proton knockout cross section measurements at N≈40

In-beam gamma-ray spectroscopy of Fe-66,Fe-68 following intermediate-energy one- and two-proton knockout from cobalt and nickel secondary beams has been performed at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory. New transitions have been observed in Fe-66 and Fe-68. This is the first observation of gamma-ray transitions in Fe-68. In addition, Cr-64 was produced using the Be-9(Fe-66,Cr-64)X two-proton knockout reaction. An unexpectedly low inclusive cross section is observed for this reaction, an order of magnitude smaller than for the Be-9(Ni-68,Fe-66)X reaction. This observation is discussed in terms of a significant structural difference between Fe-66 and Cr-64 and considerable admixtures of nu(pf)(n-2) (g(9/2))(+2) configurations in the ground and excited states of Cr-64 at N = 40.