High-spin states in the odd-odd ${}^{194}$Au nucleus have been investigated using the ${}^{192}$Os(${}^7\text{Li},5n$) reaction at a beam energy of 44 MeV. The previously known structures built on the $\pi h_{11/2}^{-1}\otimes \nu i_{13/2}^{-1}$ and $\pi h_{11/2}^{-1}\otimes \nu i_{13/2}^{-2}\nu j$ configurations are extended to high-spin states, and a new $I^{\pi }=$ (20${}^{+}$) state associated with the $\pi h_{11/2}^{-1}\otimes \nu i_{13/2}^{-2}\nu h_{9/2}^{-1}$ configuration is identified. Importantly, the $\pi h_{11/2}^{-1}\otimes \nu i_{13/2}^{-1}$ band is found to exhibit normal signature splitting. The experimental results are compared with predictions from total Routhian surface and cranked shell-model calculations. Nonaxial shapes for the $\pi h_{11/2}^{-1}\otimes \nu i_{13/2}^{-1}$ and $\pi h_{11/2}^{-1}\otimes \nu i_{13/2}^{-2}\nu h_{9/2}^{-1}$ configurations are proposed. Possible reasons for the absence of signature inversion in the $\pi h_{11/2}^{-1}\otimes \nu i_{13/2}^{-1}$ band in ${}^{194}$Au are discussed.

• Received 20 June 2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.86.054310