Direct population ofjp+jn=Jmaxtwo-particle states inBi206,208,210

Closely related high spin states in ${}_{}{}^{206}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Bi}$, ${}_{}{}^{208}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Bi}$, and ${}_{}{}^{210}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Bi}$ are preferentially excited in the ${}_{}{}^{204,206,208}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Pb}(\alpha , d)$ reaction at 48 MeV. The character of these states can be understood from the selectivity of the ($\alpha , d$) transfer mechanism and experimental systematics. Microscopic distorted-wave Born approximation predictions are consistent with new $J^{\pi }$ assignments for 14 strongly excited states with $9\le J\le 14$. The accuracy of standard distored-wave Born approximation predictions for $\mathrm{Pb}(\alpha , d)$ at 48 MeV changes systematically with increasing $L$ transfer from good ($L\le 5$) to poor ($L\ge 11$). This shortcoming is not overcome by full finite range calculations. The strong population of ${10}^{-}$, ${11}^{+}$, ${12}^{+}$, and ${14}^{-}$ states involves the largest $L$ transfers in direct reactions observed to date.