Favored configurations for four-quasiparticle K isomerism in the heaviest nuclei

Configuration-constrained potential-energy-surface calculations are performed including β6 deformation to investigate high-K isomeric states in nuclei around 254No and 270Ds, the heaviest nuclei where there have been some observations of two-quasiparticle isomers, while data for four-quasiparticle isomers are scarce. We predict the prevalent occurrence of four-quasiparticle isomeric states in these nuclei, together with their favored configurations. The most notable examples, among others, are K = 20+ states in 266,268Ds and 268,270Cn having very high K value, relatively low excitation energy, and well-deformed axially symmetric shape. The predicted isomeric states, with hindered spontaneous fission and α decay, could play a significant role in the future study of superheavy nuclei.