New deformed states near the Z =50 closed shell: sub 51 sup 117 Sb sub 66

Three decoupled ({Delta}{ital I}=2) rotational bands have been observed to rise out of irregular spherical excitations in {sub 51}{sup 117}Sb at moderate spin. These bands are interpreted as resulting from low-lying {pi}{ital g}{sub 7/2}, {pi}d{sub 5/2}, and {pi}{ital h}{sub 11/2} valence orbitals outside the {ital Z}=50 closed shell coupled to the deformed (({pi}{ital g}{sub 7/2}){sup 2}{direct product}({pi}{ital g}{sub 9/2}){sup {minus}2}){sup 116}Sn core state at the {ital N}=66 midshell. The valence orbitals do not significantly influence either the spherical or the deformed core shape; the latter is regulated by the {beta} at which the {pi}{ital g}{sub 7/2} and the intruder {pi}{ital g}{sub 9/2} levels cross. Two strongly coupled ({Delta}{ital I}=1) bands involving (({pi}{ital g}{sub 7/2}){sup 2}{direct product}({pi}{ital g}{sub 9/2}){sup {minus}1}) were also observed.