Abstract
Using, for the first time, configuration-constrained potential-energy-surface calculations with the inclusion of β6 deformation, we find remarkable effects of the high-order deformation on the high-K isomers in 254No, the focus of recent spectroscopy experiments on superheavy nuclei. For shapes with multipolarity six, the isomers are more tightly bound and, microscopically, have enhanced deformed shell gaps at N=152 and Z=100. The inclusion of β6 deformation significantly improves the description of the very heavy high-K isomers.