Search for octupole correlations in $^{147}$Nd
Properties of excited states in $^{147}$Nd have been studied with multispectra and $γγ$ coincidence measurements. Twenty-four new $γ$-lines and three new levels have been introduced into the level scheme of $^{147}$Nd. Lifetimes of eight excited levels in $^{147}$Nd, populated in the $β$ decay of $^{147}$Pr, have been measured using the advanced time-delayed $βγγ$(t) method. Reduced transition probabilities have been determined for 30 $γ$-transitions in $^{147}$Nd. Potential energy surfaces on the ($β_{2}$,$β_{3}$) plane calculated for $^{147}$Nd using the Strutinsky method predict two single quasiparticle configurations with nonzero octupole deformation, with K=1/2 and K=5/2. We do not observe parity doublet bands with K=5/2. For pair of opposite parity bands that could form the K=1/2 parity doublet we were able only to determine lower limit of the dipole moment, $|D_0|\geq$0.02 e$\cdot fm$.