Alpha decay chains from superheavy nuclei

TL;DR

This paper calculates alpha-decay half-lives of superheavy nuclei using a WKB framework, identifying regions with longer half-lives and discussing the stability of nuclei around predicted magic numbers.

Contribution

It provides theoretical alpha-decay half-life calculations for superheavy nuclei using density-dependent M3Y interactions, aligning well with experimental data and predicting stability islands.

Findings

Fission-survived Sg nuclei with Z=106, N=162 have half-life ~3.2 hours.

Superheavy nuclei with Z>118 have alpha-decay half-lives of microseconds or less.

Results agree with experimental data for nuclei with 130<Z<100.

Abstract

Magic islands for extra-stable nuclei in the midst of the sea of fission-instability were predicted to be around Z=114, 124 or, 126 with N=184, and Z=120, with N=172. Whether these fission-survived superheavy nuclei with high Z and N would live long enough for detection or, undergo alpha-decay in a very short time remains an open question. Alpha-decay half lives of nuclei with 130 < Z < 100 have been calculated in a WKB framework using density-dependent M3Y interaction with Q-values from different mass formulae. The results are in excellent agreement with the experimental data. Fission survived Sg nuclei with Z=106, N=162 is predicted to have the highest alpha-decay half life ~ 3.2 hrs in the Z=106-108, N=160-164 region called, small island/peninsula. Superheavy nuclei with Z > 118 are found to have alpha-decay half lives of the order of microseconds or, less.