SYSTEMATICS OF K-PI=8(-) ISOMERS IN N=74 NUCLEI

An isomer with a half-life of 6+/-1 mu s has been observed in the N=74 nucleus Gd-138, populated following the reaction Cd-106(Cl-35,p2n)Gd- 138. Th, isomer decays via a 583 keV EI transition with a hindrance pe r degree of K forbiddenness, f(v)=24. This value is similar to the val ues measured for the N=74 isotones Nd-134 and Sm-136 but markedly diff erent from that measured for Ba-130. This suggests that there is some change in structure across the N=74 isotones and possible explanations of this feature are discussed.