https://doi.org/10.1140/epjs/s11734-024-01096-4
Review
K isomers in atomic nuclei
1
Department of Physics, University of Surrey, GU2 7XH, Guildford, UK
2
Physics Division, Argonne National Laboratory, 60439, Lemont, IL, USA
Received:
16
October
2023
Accepted:
11
January
2024
Published online:
2
February
2024
The properties of K isomers are reviewed. Energies and decay hindrance factors are considered in detail for selected isomers in the 
160–190 region, focusing on pairing effects and the key K-mixing mechanisms that influence 
-ray decay rates. The 
-decay of K isomers is studied, indicating that, far from the valley of stability, high-K-decaying isomers will populate high-K states in the daughter nuclei. The challenges of revealing predicted, but as-yet undiscovered, long-lived isomers in the neutron-rich 
prolate–oblate shape transition region are highlighted, and the occurrence of oblate high-K isomers is discussed. The 2015 multi-quasiparticle K-isomer table of Kondev, Dracoulis, and Kibédi is updated.
© The Author(s) 2024
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