High-spin states in the nucleus ${}^{116}$Te have been studied with the reaction ${}^{64}$Ni${(}^{56}$Fe,$2p2n)$ at 236 MeV using an early implementation of the Gammasphere array. Three rotational bands extending to spins $I\sim \left(25\mathrm{}-42\right)ħ$ and excitation energies $E_{\mathrm{ex}}\sim \left(11\mathrm{}-24\right)$ MeV have been identified and connected to known low-lying states. In the most extended band, a gradual decrease in the dynamic moment of inertia ${\mathcal{J}}^{\mathrm{}\left(2\right)\mathrm{}}$ with increasing rotational frequency has been observed and interpreted as evidence for smooth band termination. Several energetically favored states based on aligned single-particle configurations also have been found to coexist with weakly deformed collective structures at low spins.

• Received 11 December 1996

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.55.2290