Shape coexistence and possible isomers in 117Sn

Excited states of 117Sn have been populated using the fusion-evaporation reaction 114Cd(7Li, 1p3n) at a beam energy of 48[Formula: see text]MeV. A total of nine new transitions have been identified and added into the level scheme of 117Sn. Based on the systematical comparisons with the neighboring Sn isotopes and the configuration-fixed constrained triaxial relativistic mean-field (RMF) calculations, a collective structure and two isomers are proposed to exist in 117Sn. The phenomenon of shape coexistence has been extended to A = 117 in odd-A Sn isotopes for the first time.