The $\gamma$ decay of the nuclei ${}^{124,125}\mathrm{Ba}$ has been investigated by means of the EUROBALL spectrometer, coupled to the DIAMANT array of charged-particle detectors, using the reaction ${}^{64}\mathrm{Ni}$ + ${}^{64}\mathrm{Ni}$ at $E_{\mathrm{beam}}=255$ and 261 MeV. In the nucleus ${}^{125}\mathrm{Ba}$ six new E1 transitions have been found to link opposite-parity bands currently interpreted as $\nu d_{5/2}$(+$g_{7/2}),\nu h_{11/2}$ structures. The previously unknown $J^{\pi }=3^{-}$ level in the nucleus ${}^{124}\mathrm{Ba}$ has also been identified; its excitation energy is accurately reproduced by a microscopic calculation including octupole correlations. Both issues are bolstered by sizable $B(E1)/B(E2)$ ratios.

• Received 9 July 2005

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.72.064315