Proton inelastic scattering on the transitional nucleus 144Nd.

The nucleus {sup 144}Nd is studied via the {sup 144}Nd({ital p},{ital p}{prime}) reaction with 35 MeV protons. Angular distributions are measured for 13 states; 12 are assigned {ital J}{sup {pi}}=2{sup +}, 3{sup {minus}}, 4{sup +}, or 5{sup {minus}}. The present results are useful in understanding the nuclear shape transition taking place in the range {ital N}=82--90 and in the investigation of a proposed mixed symmetry mode in {sup 144}Nd.