Deformation and its influence onKisomerism in neutron-rich Hf nuclei

Abstract

We investigate the influence of deformation on the possible occurrence of long-lived $K$ isomers in Hf isotopes around $N=116$, using configuration-constrained calculations of potential-energy surfaces. Despite having reduced shape elongation, the multiquasiparticle states in $^{186,188}\mathrm{Hf}$ remain moderately robust against triaxial distortion, supporting the long expected occurrence of exceptionally long-lived isomers. The calculations are compared with available experimental data.