High-K multi-quasiparticle states in 254No

Abstract We report results from an experiment on the decay of the high-K isomers in 254 No. We have been able to establish the decay from the known high-lying four-quasiparticle isomer, which we assign as a K π = 16 + state at an excitation energy of E x = 2.928 ( 3 ) MeV . The decay of this state passes through a rotational band based on a previously unobserved state at E x = 2.012 ( 2 ) MeV , which we suggest is based on a two-quasineutron configuration with K π = 10 + . This state in turn decays to a rotational band based on the known K π = 8 − isomer, which we infer must also have a two quasineutron configuration. We are able to assign many new gamma-rays associated with the decay of the K π = 8 − isomer, including the identification of a highly K-forbidden Δ K = 8 E1 transition to the ground-state band. These results provide valuable new information on the orbitals close to the Fermi surface, pairing correlations, deformation and rotational response, and K-conservation in nuclei of the deformed trans-fermium region.