Possible triaxial superdeformation in {sup 174}Hf.

Three, possibly four, regularly spaced rotational bands with large dynamical moments of inertia, which are consistent with known superdeformed bands in the Lu/Hf region, have been identified in {sup 174}Hf. The states were populated in the {sup 130}Te({sup 48}Ca,4n) reaction at a beam energy of 194 MeV. The Gammasphere array detected the emitted gamma radiation. Ultimate cranker calculations predict substantial triaxial deformation ({gamma} {approx} {+-} 17{sup o}) for highly deformed {sup 174}Hf structures. However, {sup 174}Hf is eight neutrons away from the previously established N = 94 triaxial superdeformed shell gap. Shell gaps at N = 100 and 106 with {gamma} {ge} 15{sup o} are observed when {var_epsilon}{sub 2} {approx} 0.45, which may be responsible for the predicted TSD minima in {sup 174}Hf