Comment on "Spin-trap isomers in deformed, odd-odd nuclei in the light rare-earth region near N = 98"

Abstract

Mass spectrometry studies of odd-odd light rare-earth nuclei by Orford et al. [Phys. Rev. C 102, 011303(R) (2020)] suggested the existence of new isomers in the neutron rich isotopes $^{162}$Tb and $^{164}$Tb. More recently, Stryjczyk et al. [Phys. Rev. C 111, 049801 (2025)] commented on the former, citing inconsistencies between the available experimental data and the proposed presence of an isomer in $^{162}$Tb. To further examine the possibility of isomeric states in $^{162,164}$Tb, we employed the well-tested empirical Two Quasiparticle Rotor Model to construct their low-lying level structure. The resulting level schemes support the potential existence of low-lying isomeric states in both isotopes and we propose their corresponding spin-parities, orbital configurations, and excitation energies.