A Study of the Nuclear Structure at High Energy and Low Spin

A novel method to study nuclear structure at low spin as a function of temperature is developed and used on 146,148Sm, 154,156Gd and 160,162Dy, by means of the (3He, α) reaction. The nuclear level density for a wide energy range is also studied. The γ-multiplicities and the first generation γ-ray spectra indicate a structure change in deformed nuclei at about 6 MeV.