The transient-field technique has been used to measure the g factors of yrast states in ${}_{}{}^{86}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Zr}$ over the spin region I=8ħ–14ħ in order to ascertain the nature of the alignments at the first and second backbends. The states of interest were populated in the reaction ${}_{}{}^{12}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{C}$${(}^{77}$Se,3n) at 260 MeV. The results demonstrate that the first crossing at the $8_1^{+}$ state involves the alignment of neutron ${\mathit{g}}_{9/2}$ quasiparticles, and that proton ${\mathit{g}}_{9/2}$ quasiparticles align at higher spin.

• Received 4 October 1994

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.51.513