Yrast Band in 122I and Band Termination

High spin states of the odd-odd nucleus 122I have been investigated via the fusion-evaporation reaction 116Cd(11B, 5n) at a beam energy of 68 MeV. The yrast band is extended up to Iπ = (29+). The band termination at Iπ = (22+) reported in previous studies is confirmed and interpreted as arising from a shape change from collective prolate to noncollective oblate according to Total-Routhian-Surface (TRS) calculations. In addition, the Iπ=(29+) state is assigned to the [πh11/2(πg7/2)2]23/2-⊗[(νh11/2)3(νd5/2)2]35/2− configuration corresponding to the full alignment of all valance nucleons outside the semi-closed shell.