Rotational bands and shape changes in 124Ba

High-spin states in 124Ba were populated via the 94Zr(34S, 4n)124Ba and 110Cd(16O, 2n)124Ba reactions at 145 MeV and 60 MeV, respectively. The yrast band has been extended to 34 ħ and seven side bands have been observed. Gamma-ray angular distributions with respect to the nuclear spin axis have been used along with directional correlation (DCO) ratios to establish spins and multipolarities. The competing πh112 and νh112 crossings in this region are investigated and an interpretation of the observed crossings is proposed within the framework of the cranked shell model (CSM) and total routhian surface (TRS) calculations.