Study of excited states and observation of collective level structures in the odd–odd nucleus

High-spin states of the odd–odd $${}^{194}$$Bi nucleus have been studied by means of nuclear spectroscopy for the first time. Two low-lying rotational bands were observed. The positive-parity band built on a short-lived isomeric state 633 keV above the $$\alpha $$ and $$\beta $$ decaying long-lived (10$$^-$$) state is assigned a $${\pi i_{13/2} \otimes \nu i_{13/2 }^{-1}}$$ configuration, while the other band is attributed to the $${\pi h_{9/2} \otimes \nu i_{13/2 }^{-1}}$$ configuration. Both of these bands are assumed to have oblate shape. Three band-like structures composed predominantly of $$\Delta I = 1$$ transitions were also found. One of the shears band candidates is firmly linked to the lower lying level structures whereas for the other two links to lower-lying structures remain missing