Weakly Deformed Oblate Structures in 198Os

Gamma rays de-exciting isomeric states in the neutron-rich nucleus Os-198(76)122 have been observed following relativistic projectile fragmentation of a 1 GeV per nucleon Pb-208 beam. The ground-state band has properties compatible with oblate deformation. The evolution of the structure of Os isotopes characterized by sudden prolate-oblate shape change is discussed and contrasted with the smooth change known in the Pt chain.