Neutron–proton pairing, Coulomb effects and shape coexistence in odd–odd N=Z 46V

High-spin states up to the f72-shell band termination at Jπ=15+ have been observed in the odd–odd N=Z=23 nucleus 46V. A revised and significantly extended level scheme contains two distinct structures corresponding to spherical and prolate shapes. A band exhibiting rotational-like behaviour in the latter structure has excellent correspondence with the yrast sequence in 46Ti and is therefore assumed to be a T=1 configuration. The difference between excited analogue states in the two nuclei is interpreted as a Coulomb effect and its variation with spin associated with np-pair alignment effects in 46V. Shell-model calculations have been performed and are in good quantitative agreement with experimental level energies. The competition between T=1 and T=0 structures is also reproduced.