The pi h(11/2) band-crossing and possible octupole correlations in Ba-122

High-spin states in Ba-122 have been investigated in the Ag-107(F-19, 4n) r eaction by in-beam gamma -ray spectroscopic methods. The ground-state band has been observed with spin up to 20h and a negative-parity band is identif ied with spin state up to 19h. A band-crossing in the yrast band is observe d at a rotational frequency of hw approximate to 0.36 MeV and, in accordanc e with cranked shell model calculations, is interpreted as arising from the alignment of two h(11/2) protons. Strong E1 transitions between the negati ve-parity and the yrast bands have been observed, which are proposed as pos sible evidence for octupole correlations.