Low spin structure of $^{94}_{40}$Zr from (n,n$^{\prime}\gamma$) measurements*

Recent measurements of negative g-factors for the 2$^+_1$ and 4$^+_1$ states in $^{92}$Zr and $^{94}$Zr have established the dominant role of 2d$_{5/2}$ neutron configurations between the N=50 closed shell and the N=56 subshell closure. Moreover, further studies of mixed-symmety (MS) states in $^{92}$Zr supported a weaker p-n interaction for the 2$^+_2$ MS state, as compared with the 2$^+_3$ MS state in $^{94}_{42}$Mo, which results in a partial decoupling of proton and neutron excitations. The strong M1 transition with B(M1)=0.37(4) $\mu_N^2$ connecting the 2 lowest 2$^+$ states indicates, however, that both proton and neutron configurations are still important parts of their wavefunctions. Following the previous discussion, we have analysed the low-lying structure of $^{94}$Zr at the University of Kentucky. The nuclide was studied through the (n,n$^{\prime}\gamma$) reaction at energies of 2.3, 2.8 and 3.5 MeV. A 98\% enriched $^{94}$Zr sample was used and angular distribution information yields to the measurement of branching and mixing ratios of $\gamma$-ray transitions, and determination of level lifetimes and transition strengths. For the purpose of this work, only the results for the 2.3 MeV data will be presented.