Octupole correlations in Ba and Ce nuclei

$\gamma -$rays from the Spontaneous Fission of~$^{252}$Cf were measured with Gammasphere and have given great insight into the structure of neutron rich nuclei. We have examined high-spin states and the $\gamma $-transitions associated with octupole correlations in$^{143-146}$Ba and~$^{148}$Ce. Coexisting quadrupole/octupole deformation is characterized by two $\Delta $I = 1 rotational bands with opposite parities. The states in these two rotational bands are described by a quantum number called simplex with s$^{2}$ = (-1)$^{A}$. In~$^{143}$Ba, the levels are extended to 43/2$^{+}$~with a total of six new levels along with two new transitions. In~$^{144}$Ba, we have placed new levels including three E1 transitions and 8 linking transitions to the s = +1 band to give more definitive evidence for the s = -1 band. Six new levels are found in~$^{145}$Ba. For~$^{144}$Ba and $^{148}$Ce we have, for the first time in even-even isotopes, confirmed the spin/parity of some s = -1 levels using angular correlations.