High spin states and evidence for octupole correlations in 117Xe

High-spin states of 117Xe were investigated by means of in-beam γ-ray spectroscopic techniques via the reaction of 28Si bombarding a 92Mo target at beam energies of 100-120 MeV. A positive-parity rotational band decaying into the yrast negative-parity band by a series of enhanced E1 transitions was observed for the first time, implying the existence of octupole correlations in 117Xe. The B(E1) values increase with spin. The νd5/2 band was firmly established up to 27/2+ and the B(M1)/B(E2) ratios were extracted from the relative intensities of γ-rays in this band. The previously known νh11/2 and νg7/2 [413]5/2+α=−1/2 bands were confirmed and extended up to high spins and two bandcrossings are observed in the latter at ħω=0.33 and 0.44 MeV, respectively. The bandcrossings and configurations of these bands are discussed by TRS and CSM calculations. In a γ–γ–t measurement, the 11/2− and 7/2− levels were identified as two isomers with half-lives of 59.4±20 ns and 16.5±8.0 ns, respectively.