Three superdeformed bands have been observed in the nucleus ${}^{144}$Eu with the GAMMASPHERE spectrometer in its early implementation phase. The reaction used was ${}^{122}$Sn${(}^{27}$Al,5${n)}^{144}$Eu at a beam energy of 142 MeV. All three bands are identified as single-neutron excitations with respect to ${}^{143}$Eu. One band is a confirmation of a previously suggested candidate. It is assigned as the yrast sequence based on the $\pi 6^1\nu 7^1$ configuration, and is believed to undergo an interaction with the $\nu$[514]9/2${}^{-}$ orbital. The other two bands are assigned as signature partners based on the $\pi 6^1\nu {6\mathrm{̃}}^1$ configuration, where $6\mathrm{̃}$ corresponds to a mixed [651]1/2${}^{+}$/ [642]5/2${}^{+}$ state. The partner that contains the $\alpha$=-1/2 signature component of the $6\mathrm{̃}$ orbital is identified from a band crossing that occurs in related bands in ${}^{145}$Gd and ${}^{146}$Gd. Alignment plots suggest that the interaction strength becomes stronger as the mass number increases.

• Received 31 October 1996

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.55.1101