The Northwest Frontier: Spectroscopy of N~Z Nuclei Below Mass 100

The spectroscopy and structure of excited states of N similar to Z nuclei in the mass 70-100 region has been investigated using two techniques. In the A similar to 70-80 region fusion evaporation reactions coupled with the recoil-beta-tagging method have been employed at Jyvaskyla to study low-lying states in odd-odd N = Z nuclei. Results from these and other data for known odd-odd nuclei above mass 60 will be discussed. In the heavier mass 90 region a fragmentation experiment has been performed using the RIS-ING/FRS setup at GSI. This experiment was primarily aimed at searching for spin gap isomers in nuclei around A similar to 96. The objectives of the latter experiment will be discussed