Observation of high-spin bands with large moments of inertia in Xe124

High-spin states in Xe124 have been populated using the Se80(Ca48,4n) reaction at a beam energy of 207 MeV and high-multiplicity, g-ray coincidence events were measured using the Gammasphere spectrometer. Six high-spin bands with large moments of inertia, similar to those observed in neighboring nuclei, have been observed. The experimental results are compared with calculations within the framework of the cranked Nilsson-Strutinsky model. It is suggested that the configurations of the bands involve excitations of protons across the Z=50 shell gap coupled to neutrons within the N=50-82 shell or excited across the N=82 shell closure.