Lifetimes of the decay from superdeformed to normal deformed in [sup 135]Nd

Lifetimes of low-spin members of the superdeformed band in [sup 135]Nd have been determined by the Doppler-shift recoil-distance method. We find a quadrupole moment of 7.2[sub [minus]1.5][sup +1.2] b for the 677 keV (37/2- 33) / 2 transition in the band, confirming the large deformation previously measured by the Doppler-shift attenuation method. However, the quadrupole moment for the 620 keV transition deexciting the 3.324 MeV (25/2) state at the bottom of the band is much smaller. We conclude that the superdeformed potential-energy minimum disappears or the band drastically changes character at this point which causes the sudden depopulation.