Search for shape coexistence in ¹⁹⁴Pb

The onset of collective features is expected to occur in the high-spin structure of the light lead isotopes. The authors have searched for new features in ¹⁹⁴Pb using the ¹⁶²Dy(³⁶S,4n) and the ¹⁵⁰Sm(⁴⁸Ca,4n) reactions with projectiles from the Tandem accelerator at Daresbury Laboratory. The level scheme was extended to J approximately=34 h(cross), a much higher spin than has been observed in other investigations. The highest spin is observed in a band structure consisting of dipole transitions ending at a proposed isomeric state. They find indications of collective band structures among the high-spin states in the spin region J>16 h(cross). Cranked shell model calculations were performed and the results of these are compared with shell model calculations.