Configurations and decay hindrances of high-K states in Hf180

Multi-quasiparticle high-K states, several of which are isomeric, were observed in Hf-180 with the Gammasphere array. Lifetimes in the ns-mu s range were determined using centroid-shift and decay measurements within a mu s coincidence time window. The configurations of high-K states involve two and four quasiparticles, with states up to K-pi = (18(-)) established. High-K excitations are found to be progressively more favored with increasing excitation energy. The K quantum number is quite robust up to the highest spins observed, as evidenced by the large values of the reduced hindrance for isomeric decays. Rotational bands built on three high-K states are identified, and the measured branching ratios in these sequences enable the assignment of underlying configurations. Multi-quasiparticle calculations using the Lipkin-Nogami approach for pairing, with blocking included, reproduce the observed high-K energies quite well.