Two-quasiparticle K isomers within the covariant density functional theory

Two-quasiparticle excitations of medium mass nuclei with well-defined axial deformation are studied within the covariant density functional framework. The evolution of high-K isomers is analyzed in a self-consistent axially symmetric relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov calculation using the blocking approximation. The occurrence of the 6+ and 8-low-energy high-K isomers in the region from Er to Pb (68≤Z≤82,98≤N≤112) is evaluated and compared to available data. The importance of the quasiparticle spectrum in the energy evolution of the high-K states is discussed in detail.