Proton-neutron mixed-symmetry 2_ms⁺ and 3_ms⁺ states in ⁹⁶Ru

The one-phonon mixed-symmetry 2_1,ms⁺ state and two-phonon mixed-symmetry 3_1,ms⁺ and 2_2,ms⁺ states have been identified in ⁹⁶Ru based on intensity branching ratios, E2/M1 multipole mixing ratios, upper lifetime limits, and a comparison with the experimental data for ⁹⁴Mo. The observables were obtained from Doppler-shift attenuation measurements and γγ angular correlation analyses following the ⁹⁵Mo(³He,2n)⁹⁶Ru reaction and the β⁺ decay of ⁹⁶Rh. Shell-model calculations performed for ⁹⁶Ru give clear support for the interacting boson model 2 mixed-symmetry assignments of the one-phonon 2₃⁺ state at 2283.8 keV as well as of the two-phonon 2₅⁺ state at 2739.8 keV and 3₂⁺ state at 2897.7 keV.