The low-lying level structure of ${}^{63}\mathrm{V}$ was studied for the first time by the inelastic proton scattering and the proton knock-out reaction in inverse kinematics. The comparison of the newly observed $\gamma$-ray transitions at 696(8) keV and 889(16) keV with our shell-model calculations using the Lenzi-Nowacki-Poves-Sieja interaction established two excited states proposed to be the first $11/2^{-}$ and $9/2^{-}$ levels. The $(p,p^{\prime })$ excitation cross sections were analyzed by the coupled channel formalism assuming pure quadrupole as well as quadrupole+hexadecapole deformations. This resulted in large deformation parameters placing ${}^{63}\mathrm{V}$ in the island of inversion located below ${}^{68}\mathrm{Ni}$.

• Received 16 February 2021
• Revised 16 April 2021
• Accepted 21 May 2021

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.103.064308