Nature of the Kπ = 4+ bands in the Os isotopes

Levels in 186,188Os have been investigated using the (3He,d) reaction with 30 MeV 3He beams. Absolute level‐population cross sections have been determined, and angular distributions measured between 5° and 50°. The 43+ levels are observed to be some of the strongest populated states below 2 MeV excitation energy, and the magnitudes of the 5/2+[402]π+3/2+[402]π configuration extracted are in line with quasiparticle‐phonon model predictions which state that the lowest‐lying Kπ = 4+ band is predominantly a hexadecapole excitation.