First Observation of the Nuclei 87Tc and 88Tc
The gamma-decay of excited states in the neutron deficient isotopes Tc-87 and Tc-88 has been observed for the first time. The fusion-evaporation reactions Ni-58(S-32, p2n)Tc-87 and Ni-58(S-32, pn)Tc-88 at 110 MeV, Ca-40(Cr-50, p2n)Tc-87 and Ca-40(Cr-50, pn)Tc-88 at 170 MeV and Ni-58(Ar-36, alpha-pn)Tc-88 at 145 MeV beam energy were used. Unambiguous identification of these nuclei which are populat