Core-polarization and open-shell effects in E6 transitions

The problem of isomeric E6 transitions recently measured in the fp shell is investigated. In the shell model these E6 decay rates require negative proton polarization charges and are quite anomalous in the context of usually enhanced E2 and E4 transitions. We demonstrate that usual core-polarization mechanisms cannot be invoked to explain the data and that the quadrupole deformations of the open shell that must be taken into account are instrumental in yielding negative P₆ moments.