The low excitation spectroscopy of ^{56, 57, 58}Fe

The lifetimes of 21 states in ⁵⁸Fe up to an excitation energy of 4213 keV have been determined by means of the Doppler-shift attenuation method using the ⁵⁵Mn(α, pγ) reaction. These results complement other experimental data in an analysis of the structures of the ^{56 57 58}Fe nuclides. A shell-model study has also been carried out in which the protons are constrained to the f _{7 2} shell while valence neutrons are restricted to the f _{5 2}-p _{3 2}-p _{1 2} subgroup. Good agreement with most low excitation data is found, as well as with the triaxial rotor models for these nuclides.