Structure changes in Er 160 from low to ultrahigh spin

A spectroscopic investigation of the gamma decays from excited states in Er-160 has been performed in order to study the changing structural properties exhibited from low spin up toward ultrahigh spin (I similar to 60 h). The nucleus Er-160 was populated by the reaction Cd-116(Ca-48,4n gamma) at a beam energy of 215 MeV, and resulting gamma decays were studied using the Gammasphere spectrometer. New rotational structures and extensions to existing bands were observed, revealing a diverse range of quasiparticle configurations, which are discussed in terms of the cranked shell model. At spins around 50h there is evidence for oblate states close to the yrast line. Three rotational bands that have the characteristics of strongly deformed triaxial structures are observed, marking a return to collectivity at even higher spin. The high-spin data are interpreted within the framework of cranked Nilsson-Strutinsky calculations.