New Insights into the Structure of Neutron-Rich Nuclei $$A=108-118$$ and $$^{160-162}$$Gd

The level structures of \(^{108,110,112}\)Ru (\(Z=44\)) and \(^{112,114,115,116,117,118}\)Pd (\(Z=46\)) have been significantly expanded through studies of prompt \(\gamma \)-\(\gamma \)-\(\gamma \) and \(\gamma \)-\(\gamma \)-\(\gamma \)-\(\gamma \) coincidences observed with Gammasphere following the spontaneous fission of \(^{252}\)Cf. Chiral doublet bands were observed in \(^{110,112}\)Ru. Softness to triaxiality perturbs the bands of \(^{108}\)Ru and even-\(N\) Pd isotopes. In \(^{112}\)Ru, evidence for wobbling motion is found in the behavior of the \(\gamma \) vibrational band. Similar evidence for wobbling motion is found in \(^{114}\)Pd, the \(N = 68\) isotone of \(^{112}\)Ru. A transition from triaxial prolate to triaxial oblate was found in \(^{112-116}\)Pd with shape coexistent bands in \(^{115}\)Pd. New levels were observed in \(^{162,163}\)Gd.