Octupole Deformation and Signature Inversion in 145Ba

High spin states in neutron-rich odd-N 145Ba nucleus have been investigated from study of prompt γ-rays in spontaneous fission of 252Cf. The alternating parity bands are identified indicating octupole deformation with simplex quantum number s = -i. The ground state band shows signature splitting and inversion at low spin. These collective band structures exhibit the competition and co-existence between symmetric and asymmetric shapes.