Observation of excited states inHg206

We investigated ${}_{}{}^{206}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Hg}$, the missing link for particle-vibration coupling studies around ${}_{}{}^{208}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Pb}$. In ${}_{}{}^{18,17}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{O}$ induced reactions on ${}_{}{}^{204}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Hg}$ we identified $\gamma$ rays from states at 1.068 and 2.102 MeV in ${}_{}{}^{206}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Hg}$. Relying on theoretical arguments we propose spins $2^{+}$ and $4^{+}$, respectively.