High-spin states in Te 124

In even-mass Te isotopes with 114≤A≤122 the experimentally observed yrast Iπ=16+ states have been interpreted as favored noncollective oblate states based on the fully aligned π[(g7/2)2]6+⊠- ν[(h11/2)2]10+ configuration. For Te124 the highest-spin positive-parity state known has Iπ=10+. An extension of the yrast cascade of Te124 is needed to spin at least 16+ in order to answer the question of whether this noncollective oblate state lies along the yrast line in this isotope. The level structure of Te124 has been studied via prompt γ-ray spectroscopy. Te124 was produced in the fission of the compound systems formed in two heavy-ion-induced reactions, Mg24 (134.5 MeV) + Yb173 and Na23 (129 MeV) + Yb176. γ-ray spectroscopy was accomplished with the Gammasphere array. The yrast cascade of Te124 was extended up to 5481-keV excitation energy with a tentative 16+ assignment for the highest observed state. This state does not exhibit the characteristics of the favored noncollective oblate states with Iπ=16+ observed in the lighter doubly even Te isotopes, indicating that such a state is probably no longer yrast in Te124.