Test of the SO(6) selection rule in 196Pt using cold-neutron capture

At the PF1B cold-neutron beam line of the Institut Laue Langevin, the EXILL&FATIMA array, consisting of EXOGAM Ge detectors and fast LaBr3(Ce) scintillators, was used to perform fast electronic timing measurements after the 195Pt(n, γ  ) reaction using a highly collimated cold-neutron beam. An upper lifetime limit was obtained for the third 0+0+ state in 196Pt. As this state is the lowest state of the σ=N−2σ=N−2 set of SO(6) states, the selection rule which forbids E2 transitions to the lower lying σ=Nσ=N could be tested.