Signature splitting, shape evolution, and nearly degenerate bands in Ag-108

High spin states in Ag-108 have been studied via in-beam. spectroscopy techniques using the Ru-104(Li-7, 3n) reaction. The previously known level scheme has been extended, and a new band structure has been established. The configurations have been tentatively assigned to all observed rotational bands. The signature splitting behavior of the pi g(9/2) circle times nu g(7/2) band has been discussed and interpreted as a change in shape from near-oblate to prolate. A systematic study of the nearly degenerate negative-parity bands in the A similar to 110 mass region has been performed and it is found that the yrast band in Ag-108 and its side band show different behaviors with those expected from a pair of chiral bands.