The low- and medium-spin states of the N=50 neutron-rich, 37 87Rb, 35 85Br, 34 84Se and 32 82Ge isotones have been populated in deep-inelastic processes produced by the interaction of 460 MeV 82Se ions with a 192Os target. The subsequent g decay has been investigated at the Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro using the GASP g-ray detector array. The comparison of the experimentally observed excited states with shell-model calculations performed with and without neutron degrees of freedom has allowed the investigation of the role of the neutron-core breaking excitations and therefore of the N=50 shell gap. The inclusion of neutron configurations in the shell-model calculations results in an improved agreement between the experimental and calculated level energies at medium and high spin. These results highlight the considerable contribution of neutron-core particle-hole excitations across the N=50 shell gap to the level configurations. The overall agreement of the measured excited states with the shell-model predictions is indicative of the persistence of the N=50 shell gap down to Z=32.

High-spin states in 170Ta have been studied via 159Tb(16O, 5nγ)170Ta reaction through excitation functions, K x-γ, and γ-γ-t coincidence measurements. Three rotational bands have been identified which consist of two strongly coupled bands and a semidecoupled one. The quasiparticle configurations of these bands and the interpretation of experimental results are discussed based on the existing knowledge of neighboring odd-mass and odd-odd nuclei and in the framework of the cranked-shell model. Low-spin signature inversion in the π9/2-[514]⊗ν5/2+[642] and π1/2-[541]⊗ν5/2+[642] bands are discussed. A delay reduction of the band-crossing frequency is observed in the π1/2-[541]⊗ν5/2+[642] (π5/2+[402]⊗ν5/2-[642]) band. This configuration-dependent crossing frequency is discussed in comparison with the AB crossing frequencies in the related bands of neighboring odd-Z isotopes.

High-spin states in 190Tl have been studied experimentally by using the 160Gd(35Cl,5n) fusion-evaporation reaction at beam energies of 167 and 175 MeV. A rotational band built on the πh9/2⊗νi13/2 configuration with oblate deformation has been established for 190Tl. Spin values are assigned by adopting the results from α-γ decay work for 194Bi found in the literature.With the configuration and spin-parity assignments, the low-spin signature inversion has been revealed for the πh9/2⊗νi13/2 oblate band in 190Tl. It is the first experimental observation of low-spin signature inversion for a band associated with the oblate πh9/2⊗νi13/2 configuration. The low-spin signature inversion for the oblate πh9/2⊗νi13/2 band can be interpreted by the two-quasiparticle-plus-rotor model including a J-dependent p-n residual interaction.

High-spin states in the odd-odd 182Au nucleus have been investigated using the 152Sm (35Cl, 5nγ)182Au reaction through X-γ and γ-γ-t coincidence measurements. Rotational bands based on the πh9/2⊗νi13/2 and πi13/2⊗νi13/2 configurations have been identified. It is found that the two bands show characteristics of low-spin signature inversion. The observed signature inversion can be well reproduced by pairing-deformation self-consistent cranking Woods-Saxon calculations.

Excited states of 142Ce, populated in deep inelastic reactions of 82Se projectiles bombarding 139La target, have been studied up to medium spins using in-beam γ spectroscopy techniques. Three new levels have been identified at 2625, 2995, 3834 keV, and assigned as 8+, 9(−) and 11(−), respectively. These new yrast states follow closely the level systematics of the even mass N=84 isotones. Their strctures have been discussed with the help of empirical shell model calculations.