Isomers in neutron-rich lead isotopes populated via the fragmentation of238U at 1 GeV A

Neutron-rich nuclei beyond N = 126 in the lead region were populated by fragmenting a 238U beam at 1 GeV A on a Be target and then separated by the Fragment Separator (FRS) at GSI. Their isomeric decays were observed, enabling study of the shell structure of neutron-rich nuclei around the Z=82 shell closure. Some preliminary results are reported in this paper.