Four new superdeformed (SD) bands have been observed in ${}_{}{}^{147}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Gd}$ using the EUROGAM II spectrometer. By comparison with ${}_{}{}^{146,148,149}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Gd}$ SD bands, we use the effective alignment to assign excited band configurations, with the support of the Nilsson-Strutinsky cranking formalism. The effect of the crossing of the [642]5/2 and [651]1/2 neutron orbitals lying just below the magic N=86 SD shell gap has been investigated for the ${}_{}{}^{146,147,148}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Gd}$ bands. Evidence for the [411]1/2 orbital is also given. © 1996 The American Physical Society.

• Received 29 July 1996

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.54.2910