Onset Of Collectivity In Neutron-Deficient Po-196,Po-198

We have studied via in-beam gamma-ray spectroscopy Po-196 and Po-198, which are the first neutron-deficient Po isotopes to exhibit a collective low-lying structure. The ratios of yrast state energies and the E2 branching ratios of transitions from non-yrast to yrast states are indicative of a low-lying vibrational structure. The onset of collective motion in these isotopes can be attributed to the opening of the neutron i(13/2) orbital at N approximate to 112 and the resulting large overlap between the two valence protons in the h(9/2) orbital and the valence neutrons in the i(13/2) orbital.