Evidence for isovector neutron-proton pairing from high-spin states in N=Z 74Rb

High-spin states in the odd-odd N=Z nucleus 3774Rb37 were studied using the 40Ca(40Ca,αnp) reaction. A previously observed odd-spin T=0 band has been extended to Iπ=(31+) and an even-spin T=0 band has been observed for the first time to Iπ=(22+); both have a π(g9/2)⊗ν(g9/2) structure. A strongly coupled low-spin T=0,K=3 band has been interpreted as being based upon a π[312]32⊗ν[312]32 configuration. Cranked relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov calculations, which are corrected for the t=1 np-pair field by restoring isospin symmetry, reproduce the observed spectrum. These new results provide evidence for the existence of an isovector pair field that contains a neutron-proton component with the proper strength for ensuring isospin conservation.