Excited states in $^{ 53}$Cr were studied via the $^{ 52}$Cr$(d,p\gamma)$ reaction up to the neutron-separation threshold. Proton-$\gamma$ angular correlations and $\gamma$ decay branching ratios were measured in particle-$\gamma$ coincidences between the Super-Enge Split-Pole Spectrograph (SE-SPS) and CeBr$_3$ Array (CeBrA) demonstrator of the John D. Fox Accelerator Laboratory at Florida State University. Previous spin-parity assignments from a $(d,p)$ singles experiment at the SE-SPS are supported and $\gamma$-ray transitions in $^{ 53}$Cr reported. We firmly assign higher-lying excited states to $^{ 53}$Cr because overlapping excited states and contaminants could be identified better due to the complementary $\gamma$-decay information. We also correct some of the previously reported excitation energies and present a reanalysis of previously measured $^{ 52}$Cr$(d,p){ }^{ 53}${ Cr} angular distributions guided by the complementary $\gamma$-ray information. Based on this reanalysis, the fragmentation of the neutron $2p_{ 3/2}$, $2p_{ 1/2}$, $1f_{ 5/2}$, $1g_{ 9/2}$, and $2d_{ 5/2}$ single-particle strengths is reassessed for $^{ 53}$Cr. A comparison to the corresponding strengths in $^{ 55}$Fe is presented.
Categories: nucl-ex nucl-th