Orbital configurations & population characteristics of the superdeformed Gd isotopes

We have used the 8π spectrometer at the Chalk River TASCC facility to study superdeformed rotational bands in 146,147,148,149Gd. Various options are discussed for the occupation of single‐particle orbitals at 2:1 deformation. We address the related problem of spin assignments for superdeformed states, and present recent measurements of the relative population of superdeformed bands in 147Gd as a function of excitation energy.