Odd-even staggering in the pi g(9/2)nu g(9/2) band in Br-72 - art. no. 057302

High-spin positive-parity states in Br-72 have been studied using the O-16Ni-58 reaction. The pi g(9/2)nu g(9/2) decoupled band in Br-72 has been obs erved up to similar to 10 MeV excitation energy and the expected odd-even s taggering has been delineated. A larger signature splitting is observed for this band in Br-72 than in the same collective structures in the heavier B r-74,Br-76,Br-78. No signature inversion at low spin is observed for this b and in Br-72, in contrast to the heavier isotopes, Br-74,Br-76,Br-78, in wh ich signature inversion is observed below similar to 10 (h) over bar. The o bservations are in general agreement with theoretical models in this mass r egion which predict no signature inversion for nuclei with less than 39 pro tons and neutrons. [S0556-2813(99)02811-3].