Abstract
Low-lying states have been investigated in the neutron-deficient nuclei 138, 140Gd and 139Eu. The states were populated using the 92Mo+50Cr and 92Mo+54Fe reactions. New energy levels are reported in each nucleus and mean lifetimes have been measured in 138Gd and 139Eu. The deformations deduced from the experiments confirm the predicted trend to higher deformation for the more neutron-deficient nuclei. The N=76 isotope (139Eu and 140Gd) show evidence for band crossing involving h11/2 neutrons and protons.