Abstract
Two-proton removal reaction cross sections, from 208Pb at 1 GeV/nucleon, are estimated as an example of the direct population of (high-spin) seniority-2 isomeric states, here in 206Hg. Nucleon removal by both the stripping and diffractive mechanisms is considered. The cross sections in this specific (test) case are significant and can provide direct two-nucleon removal predictions of isomeric ratios