Intrinsic and rotational states in 173Ta

High spin rotational levels in ¹⁷³Ta are populated in the ¹⁶⁵Ho(¹²C, 4n)¹⁷³Ta and ¹⁷⁵Lu(α, 6n)¹⁷³Ta reactions. The de-excitation γ-ray cascades are studied with Ge(Li) detectors. The rotational bands, which are built on the $\text{7}\text{2}$⁺(404), $\text{5}\text{2}$⁺(402), $\text{9}\text{2}$^?(514) and $\text{1}\text{2}$^?(541) intrinsic states, are identified up to high spin values. A state, interpreted as a three quasi-particle state with a probable spin of $\text{21}\text{2}$ is located at 1713 keV. Its half-life is about 100 ns. The behaviour of the moment of inertia of each rotational band versus the rotational frequency is compared with that of the doubly even core.