The high-spin decay scheme of Er-155, known previously, has been considerab
ly extended by using the EUROGAM II gamma -ray array. The so-called quasi-i
sotropic gating data-analysis method., capable of providing spin and parity
assignments with triple or quadruple coincidence data has been used. With
such coincidence information, we have determined gamma -ray angular distrib
utions, DCO ratios, and linear polarizations for many of the observed trans
itions. The level scheme is interpreted by using the particle-hole analysis
based on the deformed Woods-Saxon potential and the monopole pairing inter
action. The results indicate that at similar to 12.3 MeV excitation energy,
all nine valence particles around the Gd-146(64)82 core exhaust the maximu
m spin of I= 79/2 (h) over bar. At higher spin, relatively high-energy tran
sitions, of the order of similar to1.5 MeV, related to the breaking of the
proton or neutron cores are observed. According to the calculations, this c
orresponds to an oblate-shape polarization of the nucleus with quadrupole d
eformation beta (2)similar to -0.12.