Interacting negative-parity bands in ¹⁶⁴Er

The interactions between a K/sup ..pi../ = 5/sup -/ aligned two-quasineutron band and two octupole bands have been observed in /sup 164/Er. Band crossings occur in both even- and odd-spin sequences. The members of all three bands are observed from the bandheads (L/sup ..pi../ = 1/sup -/, 2/sup -/, and 5/sup -/) to about 12/sup -/.