Microscopic description of α, 2α, and cluster decays of 216−220Rn and 220−224R

Scientific paper - Original scientific paper

• Author: J. Zhao
• Author: J.-P. Ebran
• Author: L. Heitz
• Author: E. Khan
• Author: F. Mercier
• Author: T. Nikšić
• Author: D. Vretenar
• Author's institution: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Science; (Department of Physics)
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: NATURAL SCIENCES; Physics

Abstract (english)

α and cluster decays are analyzed for heavy nuclei located above 208Pb on the chart of nuclides: 216–220Rn and 220–224Ra, which are also candidates for observing the 2α decay mode. A microscopic theoretical approach based on relativistic energy density functionals (EDF), is used to compute axially symmetric deformation-energy surfaces as functions of quadrupole, octupole, and hexadecupole collective coordinates. Dynamical least-action paths for specific decay modes are calculated on the corresponding potential-energy surfaces. The effective collective inertia is determined using the perturbative cranking approximation, and zero-point and rotational energy corrections are included in the model. The predicted half- lives for α decay are within one order of magnitude of the experimental values. In the case of single-α emission, the nuclei considered in the present study exhibit least-action paths that differ significantly up to the scission point. The differences in α-decay lifetimes are not only driven by Q values, but also by variances of the least-action paths prior to scission. In contrast, the 2α decay mode presents very similar paths from equilibrium to scission, and the differences in lifetimes are mainly driven by the corresponding Q values. The predicted 14C cluster decay half-lives are within three orders of magnitudes of the empirical values, and point to a much more complex pattern compared with the α-decay mode.

• Keywords (english): cluster decay
• Language: english
• Publication type: Scientific paper - Original scientific paper
• Publication status: Published
• Peer review: Peer review - international
• Publication version: Published version
• Journal title: Physical Review C
• Numbering: vol. 107, no. 3, 034311
• p-ISSN: 2469-9985
• e-ISSN: 2469-9993
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.107.034311
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:217:862305
• Publication: 2023
• Project: Number: KK.01.1.1.01.0004; Title (english): QuantiXLie Center of Excellence; Jurisdiction: eu; Funding stream: European Regional Development Fund - the Competitiveness and Cohesion Operational Programme
• Document URL: https://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevC.107.034311
• Type of resource: Text
• Access conditions: Open access
• Public note: © 2023 American Physical Society. Received 25 November 2022; Revised 3 January 2023; Accepted 1 March 2023; Published 17 March 2023.
• Created on: 2023-08-23 11:50:17