Level densities and thermodynamical quantities of heated 93-98Mo isotopes

Level densities for 93-98Mo have been extracted using the (3He,alpha gamma) and (3He,3He' gamma) reactions. From the level densities thermodynamical quantities such as temperature and heat capacity can be deduced. Data have been analyzed by utilizing both the microcanonical and the canonical ensemble. Structures in the microcanonical temperature are consistent with the breaking of nucleon Cooper pairs. The S-shape of the heat capacity curves found within the canonical ensemble is interpreted as consistent with a pairing phase transition with a critical temperature for the quenching of pairing correlations at T_c ~ 0.7-1.0 MeV.