Two-phonon octupole excitation in {sup 146}Gd

Based on experimental evidence from the {sup 144}Sm({alpha},2n) reaction, the 3484.7-keV 6{sup +} state in {sup 146}Gd is identified as the highest-spin member of the 3{sup -} x 3{sup -} two-phonon octupole quartet. A previously unknown {gamma} line of 1905.8 keV and E3 character feeding the 3{sup -} octupole state has been observed. These results represent the first observation of a 6{sup +}->3{sup -}->0{sup +} cascade of two E3 transitions in an even-even nucleus and provide strong support for the interpretation of the 6{sup +} state as a two-phonon octupole excitation.