Long lifetimes through the backbend in W168

Lifetimes in W168 have been measured using the recoil distance method. The lifetime of the 12+ yrast state (at the backbend) is 87.4(3.3) ps. The 14+ yrast state has a lifetime of 38.3(1.5) ps. These unusually long lifetimes make W168 a particularly favorable case for studying the structure in the backbending region. The B (E 2) of the 12+10+ yrast transition is retarded by a factor of 50 compared with the rotational value. The transition quadrupole moments for the observed yrast and yrare states are used to deduce yrast-yrare interaction of 10<V<19 keV, in agreement with cranked shell model calculations.