Investigation of a Peak-Like Feature Observed in the Triton Energy Spectra from the $^{152,154}$Sm(p,t) Reactions*

Isotopically enriched $^{152,154}$Sm targets were bombarded with 25 MeV protons from the K-150 cyclotron at the Cyclotron Institute of Texas A\&M University. The outgoing charged particles and $\gamma$ rays were detected using the STARLiTeR array, which consists of a highly segmented $\Delta$E-E silicon telescope and six BGO shielded HPGe clover detectors. A peak-like feature was observed in the triton energy spectra from the $^{152,154}$Sm(p,t) reactions at excitation energies of approximately 3 MeV for the $^{152}$Sm(p,t) reaction and 2.2 MeV for the $^{154}$Sm(p,t) reaction. Discrete states with cross sections as large as approximately 9\% of the ground state cross section were identified in this feature using particle-$\gamma$ and particle-$\gamma$-$\gamma$ coincidences. The range of spins populated appears to be unusually large.