The scandium isotopes ${}^{44,45}\mathrm{Sc}$ were studied with the ${}^{45}\mathrm{Sc}$(${}^3\mathrm{He}$, $\alpha \gamma$)${}^{44}\mathrm{Sc}$ and ${}^{45}\mathrm{Sc}$(${}^3\mathrm{He}$, ${}^3\mathrm{He}$${}^{\text{'}}\gamma$)${}^{45}\mathrm{Sc}$ reactions, respectively. The nuclear level densities and γ-ray strength functions have been extracted using the Oslo method. The experimental level densities are compared to calculated level densities obtained from a microscopic model based on BCS quasiparticles within the Nilsson level scheme. This model also gives information about the parity distribution and the number of broken Cooper pairs as a function of excitation energy. The experimental γ-ray strength functions are compared to theoretical models of the $E1$, $M1$, and $E2$ strength and to data from (γ, $n$) and (γ,$p$) experiments. The strength functions show an enhancement at low γ energies that cannot be explained by the present standard models.

• Received 29 May 2007

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.76.044303