Octupole Correlations in the Pu Isotopes: From Vibration to Static Deformation?

In a series of measurements with Gammasphere, striking differences were found between the yrast and negative parity bands in {sup 238{endash} 240}Pu and those in {sup 241{endash} 244}Pu . These differences can be linked to variations with mass of the strength of octupole correlations. At the highest spins, {sup 238{endash} 240}Pu are found to exhibit properties associated with stable octupole deformation, suggesting that a transition with spin from a vibration to stable deformation may have occurred. {copyright} {ital 1999} {ital The American Physical Society}