Decay spectroscopy of two-quasiparticle K isomers in 246,248Cm via inelastic and transfer reactions.

The decay of K isomers in Cm (Z = 96) isotopes has been studied using inelastic and transfer reactions. The half-life of a previously identified 2-quasiparticle (qp) Kπ=8- isomer in 246Cm has been measured. A new 2-qp isomer is observed in 248Cm, its half-life measured and its decay scheme established. The reduced K hindrances extracted for the decay transitions from the isomers in 246,248Cm indicate K to be a robust quantum number and validate axial symmetry in these nuclei. The excitation energies of the 2-qp isomers in 246Cm (N = 150) and 248Cm (N = 152) support the persistence of a deformed subshell gap at N = 152 in the Z≈100 region down to Z = 96 nuclei. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]