Abstract
The half-life of the yrast I π = 2+ state in the neutron-rich nucleus 188W has been measured using fast-timing
techniques with the HPGe and LaBr3:Ce array at the National Institute of Physics and Nuclear Engineering,
Bucharest. The resulting value of t1/2 = 0.87(12) ns is equivalent to a reduced transition probability of
B(E2; 2+
1 → 0+
1 ) = 85(12) W.u. for this transition. The B(E2; 2+
1 → 0+
1 ) is compared to neighboring tungsten
isotopes and nuclei in the Hf, Os, and Pt isotopic chains. Woods-Saxon potential energy surface (PES) calculations
have been performed for nuclei in the tungsten isotopic chain and predict prolate deformed minima with rapidly
increasing γ softness for 184–192W and an oblate minimum for 194W.