Eur. Phys. J. Spec. Top. (2024) 233: 1007-1015
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjs/s11734-024-01138-x

Review

Hindrances to the alpha decay and fission of high-K isomers

Nuclear Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 94720, Berkeley, CA, USA

^a rmclark@lbl.gov

Received: 29 November 2023
Accepted: 29 February 2024
Published online: 19 March 2024

Abstract

Experimental results on the α decay and fission of high-K isomers are reviewed. Despite the sparse available information, it seems that there is hindrance to the α decay and fission processes from isomeric states relative to the same processes in the ground states. This may have profound consequences, especially for the creation and observation of super-heavy nuclei. To understand the hindrances to α decay and fission that arise when high-K isomers are involved, theoretical descriptions must reflect the pair-broken character of the states, which alters both the potential and inertial terms used in describing these fundamental processes.