Core excitations beyond maximally aligned configurations in I-123

High-spin states in I-123 have been populated in the Se-80(Ca-48, p4n) I-123 reaction at 207 MeV and gamma-ray coincidence events have been recorded with the Gammasphere spectrometer. The level scheme of I-123 has been extended up to spin I = 63/2. The nucleus undergoes a shape transition from moderately deformed states with collective rotation at low spins to noncollective oblate configurations at higher spins. Maximally aligned terminating states involving all nine particles outside the Sn-114 core and states with one particle antialigned are identified. A large number of weak transitions feed the terminating states. Cranked Nilsson-Strutinsky calculations have been performed to determine possible configurations for the observed energy levels.