A neutron decoupled from a rotating odd core in 114Sb and 116Sb

The ^{113, 115}In(α, 3nγ)^{114, 116}Sb reactions have been studied using γ-ray spectroscopic techniques. The experiments included γ-ray excitation function, γ-γ coincidence, lifetime, γ-ray angular distribution and conversion electron measurements. A ΔJ = 1 rotational band has been observed in either of the ^{114, 116}Sb final nuclei. Energy spacings and electromagnetic properties of the band show strong resemblances with those of rotational bands in the adjacent odd-mass Sb nuclei. In addition two-quasiparticle and two-quasiparticle core coupled states have been observed in these nuclei. One isomer was identified in ¹¹⁶Sb, i.e. a J^π = 11⁺ state at 1889 keV ($\text{T}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext><mtext>\; =\; 4.0\pm 0.1\; </mtext><mtext>ns</mtext>}}$). A simple model is proposed which explains the ΔJ = 1 band in terms of rotational alignment of the $\text{h}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>11</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ neutron with the deformed rotating odd-A core.