Transition energy staggering and band interaction in rare-earth nuclei

Staggering of the transition energies Eγ and moments of inertia J(2) for rotational bands in rare-earth nuclei is investigated by means of the higher order derivatives ΔnEγ (n = 2,3,4). It is shown that these (ΔI = 2) staggering effects in the normally deformed bands are related to band interaction. The band interaction picture is also applied to staggering effects in superdeformed bands.