Triaxial Deformation in $^{171}$Re?*

Nuclei that display the wobbling mode (associated with the rotation of a triaxially-deformed nucleus) are centered around $N=94$. Currently, wobbling has only been observed in $Z=71$ (Lu) and $Z=73$ (Ta) isotopes, but the role of the proton Fermi surface is not well defined. In order to investigate this, high-spin states were populated in the $N=96$ nucleus $^{171}$Re through the $^{120}$Sn($^{55}$Mn,$4n$) reaction. The $\pi i_{13/2}$ sequence (on which all known wobbling bands have been based) was extended to much higher spin, but no evidence for wobbling was found. A possible explanation for the lack of wobbling will be discussed. In addition, evidence will be shown for a Landau-Zener crossing between two of the negative-parity sequences.