Excited states of ${}^{163}\mathrm{Hf}$ were populated using the ${}^{94}\mathrm{Zr}({}^{74}\mathrm{Ge},5n)$ reaction and the decay $\gamma$ rays were measured with the Gammasphere spectrometer. Two previously known bands were extended to higher spins, and nine new bands were identified. In addition to bands associated with three- and five-quasiparticle configurations, two $\gamma \text{−}$vibrational bands coupled to the $i_{13/2}$ excitation were also observed. The lowest level of a newly identified, negative-parity band is proposed to be the ground state of the nucleus. A systematic delay of the high-spin proton crossing frequency with increasing quadrupole deformation from ${}^{162}\mathrm{Hf}$ to ${}^{172}\mathrm{Hf}$ was established. Extensive band searches failed to reveal a triaxial, strongly deformed structure in ${}^{163}\mathrm{Hf}$ similar to the one observed in several nuclei around $A\sim 165$.

• Received 27 August 2014
• Revised 28 October 2014

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.90.054325