Searching for high-$K$ isomers in the proton-rich $A\sim80$ mass region

Abstract

Configuration-constrained potential-energy-surface calculations have been performed to investigate the K isomerism in the proton-rich A ∼ 80 mass region. An abundance of high-K states are predicted. These high-K states arise from two and four-quasi-particle excitations, with K π = 8 + and K π = 16 + , respectively. Their excitation energies are comparatively low, making them good candidates for long-lived isomers. Since most nuclei under studies are prolate spheroids in their ground states, the oblate shapes of the predicted high-K states may indicate a combination of K isomerism and shape isomerism.