The importance of triaxial shapes in spin aligned configurations in the A = 170-180 mass region

Deformations determined from total routhian surfaces (TRS) for the yrast states of even-even isotopes of W, Os, and Pt are presented. The calculated deformations imply a number of specific features for the yrast line, resulting from deformation changes and the alignment of specific pairs of quasiparticles. The triaxial shapes predicted from the TRS are important for determining the character of the aligning particles as well as for making a correct interpretation of the strength of the interaction between crossing bands and the bandcrossing frequencies. 19 refs., 9 figs