Multi-particle excitations in the superdeformed 149Gd nucleus

Six rotational bands built on superdeformed intrinsic configurations have been observed in the ¹⁴⁹Gd nucleus with the Eurogam spectrometer. Orbital configuration assignments have been suggested on the basis of their effective alignments calculated with the Nilsson-Strutinsky cranking model. Most of the excited bands have identical partners in neighboring nuclei including one case differing by four mass units. Measurements of feeding patterns indicate that the ¹⁴⁹Gd yrast superdeformed band is fed over a wider range of angular momentum than other yrast superdeformed bands in this mass region whereas weaker excited bands in the same nucleus are populated in narrower spin windows.