Rotational structures and the wobbling mode in 167Ta

Excited states in the neutron-deficient nucleus Ta-167 were studied through the Sn-120(V-51,4n) reaction. Twelve rotational bands have been observed and the relative excitation energy of each sequence is now known owing to the multiple interband connections. Several quasineutron alignments were observed that aided in the quasiparticle assignments of these bands. The resulting interpretation is in line with observations in neighboring nuclei. Trends in the wobbling phonon energy seen in Lu-161,Lu-163,Lu-165,Lu-167 and Ta-167 are also discussed and particle-rotor model calculations (assuming constant moments of inertia) are found to be inconsistent with the experimental data.