Searching for high-$K$ isomers in the proton-rich $A\sim 80$ mass region

Abstract

Configuration-constrained potential-energy-surface calculations have been performed to investigate the $K$ isomerism in the proton-rich $A\sim 80$ mass region. An abundance of high-$K$ states are predicted. These high-$K$ states arise from two and four-quasi-particle excitations, with $K^{\pi }=8^{+}$ and $K^{\pi }=16^{+}$, 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.