Candidate magnetic rotational band in ^109Ag

Excited states of ^109Ag have been investigated by in-beam γ -ray spectroscopic techniques using the ^110Pd ( ^7Li , α 4n ) ^109Ag reaction at a beam energy of 46 MeV. The level scheme of ^109Ag is significantly extended with the addition of more than 20 new γ transitions. For the positive-parity yrast band, it is extended to 41/2^+ state and 2ħ higher than the earlier work. A negative-parity band decaying to the yrast band by eleven new linking transitions is identified, and several E 2 crossover transitions of this band are observed, thereby confirming the spin-parity assignment and the ordering of dipole transitions above the I^π = 17/2^- level. Experimental total angular momenta, kinematical and dynamical moments of inertia, and B ( M 1)/ B ( E 2) ratio for the negative-parity band are compared with the predictions of self-consistent titled axis cranking relativistic mean-field model. Based on the theoretical description and the observed characteristics, the negative-parity dipole band is suggested as a magnetic rotational band arising from shears mechanism.