Evidence of the Excited X(5)-like Critical-Point Symmetry Structures in 152Sm
The positive-parity structure of 152Sm has been investigated through high-statistics γ-ray spectroscopy following the (150Nd(α,2n)152Sm reaction at Elab = 26 MeV. Several collective structures built on excited 0+ states have been extended through the observation of new levels and γ-ray transitions, and spin-parity assignments have been established using directional-correlation and linear-polarization measurements. Electromagnetic transition strengths (B(E2)), deduced from measured branching ratios and known level lifetimes, reveal pronounced collectivity among the excited configurations. The resulting level scheme provides evidence for a sequence of excited collective bands extending beyond the well-known ground-state and first excited 0+ structures. The excitation energies and transition strengths are examined within the framework of the X(5) critical-point description of the first-order U(5)-SU(3) shape-phase transition. In addition to the established X(5)-like features of the low-lying spectrum, the observed systematics of the higher-lying bands are found to be consistent with excited collective structures exhibiting X(5)-like characteristics. The results provide new constraints on the realization of critical-point behavior in finite nuclei and on the evolution of collectivity in the N=90 region.