Rotational bands have been studied to high spins in the neutron-deficient ${}^{124,125}\mathrm{Ce}$ nuclei. The nuclei were populated using the ${}^{64}\mathrm{Zn}\left({}^{64}\mathrm{Zn},2p2n\right){}^{124}\mathrm{Ce}$ and ${}^{64}\mathrm{Zn}\left({}^{64}\mathrm{Zn},2pn\right){}^{125}\mathrm{Ce}$ reactions, with a beam energy of $260\text{MeV}$. High-fold $\gamma$-ray coincidence data were collected using the Gammasphere germanium-detector array. The Microball charged-particle detector array was used to provide channel selection. The previously established level structures of both ${}^{124,125}\mathrm{Ce}$ have been extended to high spins $\left(\sim 30\hslash \right)$. In addition, several new bands have been identified. The alignments of pairs of $h_{11∕2}$ neutrons and protons are observed in both nuclei. The alignments are compared to the predictions of Woods-Saxon cranked shell model calculations and to the systematics of $h_{11∕2}$ quasiparticle alignments in neighboring nuclei. The apparent ability of the cranked shell model to explain the $h_{11∕2}$ neutron alignments in ${}^{124,125}\mathrm{Ce}$ highlights the previously reported discrepancies between experiment and theory for the ${}^{128}\mathrm{Ce}$ isotope and, to a lesser extent, ${}^{126}\mathrm{Ce}$.

• Received 26 July 2003

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.69.034339