Heavy Element Spectroscopy: $^{244,245,246}$Pu (Z=94)

We report new spectroscopic observations in the N=150,151,152 nuclei $^{244,245,246}$Pu (Z=94) in continuation of our exploration of heavy elements using deep-inelastic and transfer reactions. High-spin states in $^{244,245,246}$Pu were populated using a $^{208}$Pb beam from the ATLAS superconducting LINAC at Argonne National Laboratory, incident on a $^{244}$Pu target, with gamma rays detected by 101 high resolution high-purity Ge detectors of the Gammasphere array. New bands are observed in $^{244,245}$Pu and the ground state band in $^{246}$Pu has been extended to higher spins. The new results will be discussed in the context of the physics of neighboring N=150,151 and 152 even-Z isotones, along with expected high-K configurations and their decay modes in this region. The results help constrain theoretical models that attempt to describe the stability and structure of superheavy nuclei.