The possibilities for the backbending effect to occur in actinide nuclei are studied using the pairing-self-consistent independent quasiparticle method. The Hamiltonian used is that of the deformed Woods-Saxon potential plus monopole pairing term. The results of the calculations explain why there is no backbending in most actinide nuclei and simultaneously suggest that in some light neutron deficient nuclei around ${}_{}{}^{224}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Th}$ and ${}_{}{}^{22}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Ra}$ a backbending effect may occur.

NUCLEAR STRUCTURE Collective structure in levels (including rotational bands); collective models.

• Received 16 October 1981

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.26.1708