Backbending in 167Hf and 168Hf and the band-crossing picture

Using two Compton-suppression spectrometers in an E_γ?E_γ coincidence experiment, the yrast bands in ^167,168Hf were extended up to $\text{49}\text{2}$ and 28 ?, respectively. The i ${}_{\mathrm{<mtext>13</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ positive parity band in ¹⁶⁷Hf experiences backbending at a higher frequency than the first backbending in ¹⁶⁸Hf, and no second backbending is obseerved in ¹⁶⁸Hf. New information is threby obtained on the nature and interaction strength of the crossing bands in the vicinity of N = 96.