Collectivity in neutron-rich Cr isotopes*

Collectivity rapidly develops in neutron-rich nuclei near N = 40 with Z $<$ 28 as protons are removed from the f$_{7/2}$ single-particle state. This collectivity has been inferred from large drops in the energy of the first excited 2$^{+}$ state in even-even Cr and Fe isotopes, as well as an increase in B(E2) along the Fe isotopic chain. Shell-model calculations that include the neutron g$_{9/2}$ and d$_{5/2}$ single-particle states indicate that the enhanced collectivity can be attributed to multi-particle neutron excitations across the N=40 gap. In the odd-odd nuclei, coexistence between spherical and deformed states has been proposed in the low-energy level structures of the Co and Mn isotopes. While recent studies of odd-A nuclei in this region have focused on the Co and Fe isotopes, less is known about the odd-A Cr isotopes. The structure of the odd-A Cr nuclei was investigated through the beta decay of neutron-rich V isotopes produced at the NSCL. The low-energy level schemes of the odd-A Cr isotopes will be presented and discussed.