Multi-quasiparticle states and K-forbiddenness in ¹⁷⁷W

High-spin states in ¹⁷⁷W have been populated using the ¹⁶⁴Dy(¹⁸O,5n) reaction at a beam energy of 83 MeV. Six new high-K bands based on 3-, 5- and 7-quasiparticle excitations have been observed. Nilsson configurations for these bands are discussed, and experimental and calculated g-factors are compared. Decays of the Kπ = 29/2⁺ 5-quasiparticle state to the members of the Kπ = 7/2⁺ band have been observed. The decay rates are compared with predictions calculated within a tunneling model where the nuclear shapes are considered to change along the γ direction in the (∈₂,γ) deformation plane.