High spin structure of 35Cl and the sd–fp shell gap

The high spin states of 35Cl have been studied by in-beam γ-spectroscopy following the fusion–evaporation reaction 12C(28Si,αp)35Cl at Elab=70 and 88 MeV, using the Indian National Gamma (Clover) Array (INGA). Lifetimes of six new excited states have been estimated for the first time. To understand the underlying structure of the levels and transition mechanisms, experimental results have been compared with those from the large basis cross-shell shell model calculations. Involvement of orbitals from fp shell and squeezing of the sd–fp shell gap seem to be essential for reliable reproduction of high spin states.