Proton and neutron excitations in superdeformed Tb150

Two new superdeformed (SD) bands have been observed in Tb150 using the reaction P31+124Sn and the GAMMASPHERE detector array. These new bands are interpreted as being excited SD configurations involving a proton and a neutron particle-hole excitation, respectively. The configurations are discussed in terms of the occupancy of high-N intruder orbitals. These data are used to provide information on (i) the contribution to the dynamic moments of inertia due to the occupation of specific orbitals, (ii) the deformation driving effects of the particle-hole states, and (iii) the consequences of these effects on pairing and band-crossings

Building angular momentum beyond band termination in 157,158Er

Our present understanding of the terminating bands in the I=40-50 spin range of 157,158Er is reviewed briefly. It is only recently that it has been possible to study states at higher spin in these nuclei, beyond band termination. Firstly, a large number of weak high-energy transitions feeding the terminating states were observed. Secondly, some collective structures that extended discrete spectroscopy in these nuclei beyond I= 60 hbar were identified