Thermal neutron capture gamma rays from neutron capture in Ni59 and Ni63

The thermal neutron capture $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray spectra for $^{60}\mathrm{Ni}$ and $^{64}\mathrm{Ni}$ have been observed from a sample previously irradiated to produce long-lived isotopes of $^{59}\mathrm{Ni}$ and $^{63}\mathrm{Ni}$. New values of the neutron binding energy have been obtained for the compound systems $^{59}\mathrm{Ni}$, $^{60}\mathrm{Ni}$, $^{61}\mathrm{Ni}$, $^{62}\mathrm{Ni}$, and $^{64}\mathrm{Ni}$. The $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray spectra for neutron capture by $^{59}\mathrm{Ni}$ and $^{63}\mathrm{Ni}$ are not as strongly peaked at high energies as the $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray spectra observed for neutron capture by the even-mass target nuclei in the $A\ensuremath{\approx}40\ensuremath{-}64$ mass region.NUCLEAR REACTIONS $^{58}\mathrm{Ni}$, $^{59}\mathrm{Ni}$, $^{60}\mathrm{Ni}$, $^{61}\mathrm{Ni}$, $^{63}\mathrm{Ni}(n, \ensuremath{\gamma})$; ${E}_{n}=\mathrm{thermal}$; measured ${E}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}}$, ${I}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}}$; deduced binding energies, energy levels for $^{59}\mathrm{Ni}$, $^{60}\mathrm{Ni}$, $^{61}\mathrm{Ni}$, $^{62}\mathrm{Ni}$, $^{64}\mathrm{Ni}$. Irradiated natural target.