First observation of high-spin states in 116In and possible new region of chirality

High-spin states in neutron-rich indium isotope ¹¹⁶In have been observed for the first time by using incomplete fusion of ⁷Li on a ¹¹⁶Cd target at a beam energy of 42 MeV. A negative-parity band with π g_9/2^-1 ⊗ νh_11/2 configuration and a pair of positive-parity doublet bands with π g_9/2^-1 ⊗ ν (g_7/2 /d_5/2)h_11/2² configurations have been identified. The positive-parity doublet bands are tentatively interpreted as chiral doublet bands, which is supported by the adiabatic and configuration-fixed constrained triaxial relativistic-mean-field and multiparticle plus rotor model calculations. This observation reports a possible new region of chirality in neutron-rich A≈ 120 mass region.