Non-yrast states in $^{221}$Th*

The nucleus $^{221}$Th has been studied, using the $^{207}$Pb($^{18}$O,4n) E$_{lab}$=96 MeV fusion-evaporation reaction and the Gammasphere + HERCULES detector combination. The $^{18}$O beam, provided by the ATLAS accelerator, had a 247.5-ns pulse structure. Based on evaporation-residue selected $\gamma $--ray coincidence data, the previously reported [1] octupole band (yrast) has been extended to higher spin, but also the non-yrast structure of $^{221}$Th has been delineated. The latter includes another octupole-type band. A comparison with the neighboring nuclei $^{223}$Th and $^{219}$Ra will be presented. [1] M. Dahlinger et al., Nucl. Phys. A 484, 337 (1988).