In-beam γ-ray spectroscopy of the N=85 isotones 159 W and 160 Re

Excited states have been identified in the isotones W-159(74) and Re-160(75), which were produced in fusion-evaporation reactions of a beam of 310-MeV Ni-58 ions with an isotopically enriched Cd-106 target. The strongest gamma-ray transitions in W-159 and Re-160 are interpreted as continuing the regular sequence of states identified in lighter N = 85 isotones that are built upon 9/2(-) and 10(+) states, respectively. The half-life of Hf-155, the beta-decaying daughter of the a decay of W-159, was measured with improved precision to be 840 +/- 30 ms.