Nonaxial shapes in the odd-odd 194Au nucleus

High-spin states in the odd-odd Au-194 nucleus have been investigated using the Os-192(Li-7, 5n) reaction at a beam energy of 44 MeV. The previously known structures built on the pi h(11/2)(-1) circle times vi(13/2)(-1) and pi h(11/2)(-1) circle times vi(13/2)(-2) vj configurations are extended to high-spin states, and a new I-pi = (20+) state associated with the pi h(11/2)(-1) circle times vi(13/2)(-2) vh(9/2)(-1) configuration is identified. Importantly, the pi h(11/2)(-1) circle times vi(13/2)(-1) band is found to exhibit normal signature splitting. The experimental results are compared with predictions from total Routhian surface and cranked shell-model calculations. Nonaxial shapes for the pi h(11/2)(-1) circle times vi(13/2)(-1) and pi h(11/2)(-1) circle times vi(13/2)(-2)vh(9/2)(-1) configurations are proposed. Possible reasons for the absence of signature inversion in the pi h(11/2)(-1) circle times vi(13/2)(-1) band in Au-194 are discussed.