Cross-Shell Excitations and High Spins in 41K and 41Ca

The work to be presented here investigates the nuclear structure of 41K and 41Ca, both of which have one or more nucleons in the fp-shell in their ground state configurations. These nuclei play a significant role in exploring the N = 20 shell gap. This work was carried out using fusion-evaporation reactions at Florida State University’s Jon D. Fox Superconducting Linear Accelerator Laboratory: 26Mg(18O,3n)41K and 26Mg(18O,p2n)41Ca. The 18O beam energy was 50 MeV and the target (26Mg) consisted of two foils that were approximately 400 microns thick each. The data analysis resulted in the determination of a number of new energy levels and transitions along with newly proposed spins and parities. This information will be used to aid in refining a shell model interaction for cross-shell nuclei.