Shape coexistence and high spin states in ⁵²Cr

High spin states in ⁵²Cr have been populated by means of the reaction ²⁷Al(²⁸Si,3p)⁵²Cr at a beam energy of 70 MeV and studied with an array, consisting of eight Compton-suppressed clover germanium detectors. Eleven new γ rays have been assigned to ⁵²Cr and placed in the level scheme. The level structure of ⁵²Cr has been extended up to E_x≈10 MeV. Spins and parities have been assigned to many of the levels on the basis of directional correlations and linear polarization measurements. The band structures are discussed in the framework of cranked Woods-Saxon and deformed Hartree-Fock (HF) models. Both the oblate and prolate orbits are considered for J projection in the HF model. The K=0⁺ band is properly understood if we consider the J projection from both prolate and oblate orbits and collectivity shown by the K=4⁺ band to be accounted for by taking the J projection from prolate HF configurations. Thus there is prolate and oblate shape coexistence in ⁵²Cr.