Search for mixed-symmetry states in $^{136}$Ba

The low-spin structure of $^{136}$Ba reactions was studied at the University of Kentucky with the (n,n$'\gamma$) reaction. The primary goal was the identification of the two-phonon mixed-symmetry states built on the first $2^+_{ms}$ at 2129 keV. Furthermore, the systematics and the quadrupole-octupole multi-phonon excitations received special focus. The excitation functions performed from 2.2 MeV to 3.9 MeV helped to determine the threshold for the $\gamma$-ray transitions and hence their placement in the level scheme. Lifetimes, spins, multipolarities, and branching ratios obtained from angular distributions at 2.5 MeV and 3.5 MeV will be presented.