Observation of a secondπh11/2⊗νh11/2band in126La

High-spin states of La-126 have been populated using the Sn-116(N-14, 4n)La-126 reaction at a beam energy of 77 MeV. A side band linking to the known yrast pi h(11/2) circle times nu h(11/2) band is observed. B(M1)/B(E2) ratios and alignments of the side band and DCO ratios of linking transitions between the side band and the yrast band suggest that the side band has the same pi h(11/2) circle times nu h(11/2) configuration as that of the yrast band, and thus the side band is a second pi h(11/2) circle times nu h(11/2) band in La-126. The separation energy, Delta E(I) = E(I)(side) - E(I)(yrast), between the side band and the yrast band at the same spin, and the energy staggering parameter S(I) of the second pi h(11/2) circle times nu h(11/2) band in La-126 are compared to those of other odd-odd La isotopes. The variation trends of Delta E(I) and S(I) both suggest that it is reasonable to interpret the second pi h(11/2) circle times nu h(11/2) band in La-126 as an excited pi h(11/2) circle times nu h(11/2) band as proposed for La-124 rather than to interpret it as a partner band of a near degenerate chiral doublet band as done for La128-134.