Excited states in 163,164 Ho populated through incomplete-fusion reactions

. High-spin states in 163,164 Ho were investigated by means of in-beam γ -ray spectroscopy techniques using the multidetector array GASP. Excited states in 163,164 Ho were populated predominantly through the incomplete-fusion mechanism in the 160 Gd ( 11 B ,α xn) reaction at a beam energy of 61 MeV. Known rotational bands in 163 Ho have been extended to higher spins and a three-quasiparticle band has been observed in this nucleus. Rotational bands have been identified in 164 Ho and their configurations have been discussed. Empirical Gallagher-Moszkowski (GM) splitting energies were extracted from the π 7/2^-[523]⊗ν 5/2^-[523] and π 7/2^-[523]⊗ν 5/2^ + [642] GM doublets. Alignments, band crossing frequencies, and electromagnetic properties have been analyzed in the framework of the cranking model.