High-K Isomers and Band Structures in $^{244,245}$Pu

In continuation of our study of high-K configurations in the heavier neutron-rich N$\sim $150 $^{246-249}$Cm and $^{247,249}$Cf nuclei, using deep-inelastic and transfer reactions [1], we report on new results from Gammasphere in the N=150,151 nuclei $^{244,245}$Pu. High-spin states in $^{244,245}$Pu were populated using a $^{208}$Pb beam incident on a $^{244}$Pu target. In $^{244}$Pu, a high-K band is observed, most likely built on top of a K$^{\pi }$ = 8$^{-}$ isomer, the half-life and decay of which was measured in an earlier experiment by our group. In $^{245}$Pu, we find new rotational bands in coincidence with a 194 keV transition, which is presumably the known 7/2$^{+}$[624] to 9/2$^{-}$[734] (ground state) transition [2]. The new results will be discussed in the context of 2qp K$^{\pi }$ = 8$^{-}$ isomers observed in N=150 and 152 even-even isotones, along with expected high-K configurations and their decay modes in this region.\\[4pt] [1] U. Shirwadkar, Ph.D. Thesis, UMass Lowell, 2009.\\[0pt] [2] H. Makii et al., Phys. Rev. C\textbf{76}, 061301(R) (2007).