Shape evolution and magnetic rotation in Nd-141

The high-spin states in Nd-141 were investigated using the Zr-96(Ca-48, 3n) reaction and the EU-ROBALL array. The level scheme has been extended up to an excitation energy of around 16MeV and spin 81/2. Two new bands of dipole transitions and three bands presumably of quadrupole transitions were identified and their connections to low-lying states were established. Cranked Nilsson-Strutinsky and tilted axis cranking calculations are combined in the interpretation of the observed dipole bands. The high-spin bands with assigned quadrupole transitions are interpreted as triaxial bands, while the dipole bands appear in the calculations to exhibit a shape evolution from low-deformation triaxial to spherical shape. They can be classified as magnetic rotation, with transition probabilities that show the characteristic decrease with angular momentum caused by the shears mechanism.