OBSERVATION OF A DEFORMED BAND IN RH-98

The high spin level structure of Rh-98 has been extended to a spin of 16 (h) over bar and excitation energy of 8.3 MeV through the discrete- line gamma-ray spectroscopy. A negative parity rotational band has bee n observed which exhibits a large signature splitting and a signature inversion at I = 10 (h) over bar. The particle-rotor model calculation s using a beta=0.13 and (pi g(9/2)X nu h(11/2)) configuration for the odd proton and neutron give a good description of the above-mentioned characteristics of the band. Thus Rh-98 is the nucleus closest to the N=50 shell closure which exhibits a deformed band based on the h(11/2) intruder orbital.