Rotational structures in 129Nd and signature splitting systematics of the vh11/2 bands in A∼130 nuclei -: art. no. 024303

High-spin states in Nd-129 were populated in the reaction Mo-92(Ca-40,2pn) with beam energies of 170 and 184 MeV in two separate experiments. Over 140 new transitions were placed in a level scheme that consists of four rotational structures, three of which have been observed for the first time. The bands were assigned configurations based on their B(M1)/B(E2) ratios (for the strongly coupled bands), aligned angular momentum, observed band crossings, and signature splitting. Evidence for of the observation of the deformation driving nui(13/2)[660]1/2 orbital is presented. Signature splitting trends in the nuh(11/2) bands of A similar to 130 nuclei are investigated within the framework of the cranked shell model. Comparisons are made with observations in the pih(11/2) bands near A similar to 160.