Nuclear structure of 166Tm from (α,3n) γ-ray and conversion electron measurements

Excited levels of the strongly-deformed odd-odd nucleus 166Tm, populated by the 165Ho(α,3nγ) reaction, were investigated using standard in-beam γ-ray spectroscopy, including measurements of a few conversion electron lines, and by high-resolution curved-crystal spectroscopy. A level scheme consisting of 178 transitions among 6 well-developed and 4 partial rotational bands is proposed. Level spins and parities were determined and the results were interpreted in the framework of the Nilsson model by comparison with predictions. The Gallagher-Moszkowski splitting for the { π 1 2 + [411] ± ν 5 2 + [642] } configuration was determined to be 245(20) keV. An anomalous signature splitting was observed for the {π 7 2 + [404] + ν 5 2 + [642]}K π = 6 + configuration.