The low-spin structure of ${}^{93}\mathrm{Nb}$ has been studied using the $(n,n^{\prime }\gamma )$ reaction at neutron energies ranging from 1.5 to 3 MeV and the ${}^{94}\mathrm{Zr}(p,2n\gamma ){}^{93}\mathrm{Nb}$ reaction at bombarding energies from 11.5 to 19 MeV. States at 1779.7 and 1840.6 keV, respectively, are proposed as mixed-symmetry states associated with the $\pi 2p_{1/2}^{-1}\otimes (2_{1,\mathrm{MS}}^{+},{}^{94}\mathrm{Mo})$ coupling. These assignments are derived from the observed $M1$ and $E2$ transition strengths to the $2p_{1/2}^{-1}\otimes (2_1^{+},{}^{94}\mathrm{Mo})$ symmetric one-phonon states, energy systematics, spins and parities, and comparison with shell model calculations.

• Received 1 March 2006

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.97.062504