We study nuclear high-spin states undergoing the transition to the fully stretched configuration with maximum angular momentum $I_{\max }$ within the space of valence nucleons. To this end, we perform a systematic theoretical analysis of non-fully-stretched $I_{\max }-2$ and $I_{\max }-1$ $f_{7/2}^n$ seniority isomers and $d_{3/2}^{-1}{f}_{7/2}^{n+1}$ intruder states in the $A$∼44 nuclei from the lower-$\mathit{fp}$ shell. We employ two theoretical approaches: (i) the density functional theory based on the cranked self-consistent Skyrme-Hartree-Fock method, and (ii) the nuclear shell model in the full $\mathrm{sdfp}$ configuration space allowing for 1$p$-1$h$ cross-shell excitations. We emphasize the importance of restoration of broken angular momentum symmetry inherently obscuring the mean-field treatment of high-spin states. Overall good agreement with experimental data is obtained.

• Received 8 January 2007

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.75.054306