High-spin spectroscopy of $^140$Nd

The population of the high-spin states in Nd-140 was investigated using the reaction Zr-96(Ca-48,4n). The results from two experiments, one with the EUROBALL array and one with the JUROGAM II + RITU + GREAT setup employing the recoil decay tagging technique, have been combined to develop a very detailed level scheme for Nd-140. Twelve bands of quadrupole transitions and eleven bands of dipole transitions were identified and their connections to low-lying states were established. Calculations using the cranked Nilsson-Strutinsky and the tilted axis cranking models were used to interpret the observed structures. The overall good agreement between the experimental results and the calculations assuming a triaxial shape of the nucleus strongly support the existence of a stable triaxial shape at high spins in this mass region. (Less)