Rotational bands in 101 – 103 Nb and 9 8 , 1 0 0 Y nuclei and identification of yrast bands in 146 La and 149 Pr

Several $\\ensuremath{\\gamma}$ transitions in ${}^{101--103}\\mathrm{Nb},{ }^{98,100}\\mathrm{Y},{ }^{146}\\mathrm{La},$ and ${}^{149}\\mathrm{Pr}$ are identified from spontaneous fission studies employing a ${}^{252}\\mathrm{Cf}$ source and the Gammasphere detector array. In particular, the pairing-free bands in ${}^{100}\\mathrm{Y}$ and ${}^{102}\\mathrm{Nb}$ are extended, two rather highly deformed negative-parity bands feeding the 4.3-s $\\ensuremath{\\beta}$-decaying isomer of ${}^{102}\\mathrm{Nb}$ are identified, and their possible bandhead configurations are discussed. In the case of ${}^{101,103}\\mathrm{Nb},$ we have extended previously reported level schemes by over 20 transitions in each nuclide. For the fission partners ${}^{146}\\mathrm{La}$ and ${}^{149}\\mathrm{Pr}$ we have elucidated their previously unreported yrast level schemes.