Proton-neutron alignment in the yrast states of ⁶⁶Ge and ⁶⁸Ge

The $^{66}$Ge and $^{68}$Ge nuclei are studied by means of the shell model with the extended $P+QQ$ Hamiltonian, which succeeds in reproducing experimentally observed energy levels, moments of inertia and other properties. The investigation using the reliable wave-functions predicts T=0, J=9 one-proton-one-neutron ($1p1n$) alignment in the $g_{9/2}$ orbit, at high spins ($14_1^+$, $16_1^+$ and $18_1^+$) in these $N \approx Z$ even-even nuclei. It is shown that a series of the even-$J$ positive-parity yrast states (observed up to $26_1^+$ for $^{68}$Ge) consists of the ground-state band and successive three bands with different types of particle alignments (two-neutron, $1p1n$, two-proton-two-neutron) in the $g_{9/2}$ orbit.