Identification of levels in $^{144}$Cs}

From the analysis of $\gamma$-$\gamma$-$\gamma$ coincidence data taken with Gammasphere of the prompt $\gamma$ rays in the spontaneous fission of $^{252}$Cf, a cascade of six transitions, at 108.0, 115.1, 263.8, 404.8, 535.2, and tentatively 679.5 keV, was identified in $^{144}$Cs for the first time. The transitions were assigned to a cascade with these energies in $^{144}$Cs from their relative intensities and by identifying their coincidences with the known transitions in $^{105}$Tc and $^{106}$Tc, the 3n and 2n fission partners of $^{144}$Cs, and comparing the Tc intensities to the respective Tc yield tables. The energy levels in $^{138,140,142}$Cs with N = 83, 85, and 87, respectively, just above the spherical closed shell at N = 82, each have first excited states around 10 keV and second excited states between 16 and 65 keV, and no rotational-type bands. These states are associated with single particle states in the spherical region. With N = 89 in $^{144}$Cs, one has crossed the region between N = 88 and 90 where there is a rather sudden change from spherical nuclei with N $\leq$ 88 to significant deformation in N $\geq$ 90 nuclei. The levels in $^{144}$Cs look like a rotational band in a more well-deformed nucleus.