Exotic isomers in deformed atomic nuclei

Excited states of atomic nuclei can have long half lives, due to the angular-momentum couplings of unpaired nucleons. Such isomeric states provide opportunities for exploring novel nuclear physics, astrophysics and physics at the atomic/nuclear interface. This review focuses on the properties of isomers in deformed nuclei, and emphasises the importance of axial symmetry in preserving the integrity of the K quantum number. A region of neutron-rich nuclei around Hf-188 (Z = 72, N = 116) is predicted to have exceptional isomer properties, and experimental advances are now opening up this region to detailed investigation.