  The projected shell model is used to study the multi-quasiparticle and
collective excitations of 178Hf. With an axially symmetric basis, the spin-16
isomer at 2.4 MeV appears to be well separated in energy/spin space from other
configurations. However, projected energy surface calculations suggest that
178Hf has significant softness to axially asymmetric shapes, which can strongly
modify the level distribution. The implications for photodeexitation of the
isomer are discussed.
