Cluster-Daughter Overlap as a New Probe of Alpha-Cluster Formation in Medium-Mass and Heavy Even-Even Nuclei

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new dimensionless parameter to quantify alpha-cluster formation in medium-mass and heavy even-even nuclei, using experimental charge radii to systematically explore clustering probabilities and their dependence on nuclear structure.

Contribution

The study proposes the cluster-daughter overlap parameter $rak{O}$ as a novel probe for alpha-cluster formation, providing a complementary method to alpha-decay data especially for stable nuclei.

Findings

$rak{O}$ correlates with alpha-cluster formation probability.

Shell closures influence alpha-cluster formation trends.

Hints of subshell structure at N=106 in Hg and Pb isotopes.

Abstract

We study the possibility to use the cluster-daughter overlap as a new probe of alpha-cluster formation in medium-mass and heavy even-even nuclei. We introduce a dimensionless parameter $\mathfrak{O}$, which is the ratio between the root-mean-square (rms) intercluster separation and the sum of rms point radii of the daughter nucleus and the alpha particle, to measure the degree of the cluster-daughter overlap quantitatively. By using this parameter, a large (small) cluster-daughter overlap between the alpha cluster and daughter nucleus corresponds to a small (large) $\mathfrak{O}$ value. The alpha-cluster formation is shown explicitly, in the framework of the quartetting wave function approach, to be suppressed when the $\mathfrak{O}$ parameter is small, and be favored when the $\mathfrak{O}$ parameter is large. We then use this $\mathfrak{O}$ parameter to explore systematically the landscape of alpha-cluster formation probabilities in medium-mass and heavy even-even nuclei, with $\mathfrak{O}$ being calculated from experimentally measured charge radii. The trends of alpha-cluster formation probabilities are found to be generally consistent with previous studies. The effects of various shell closures on the alpha-cluster formation are identified, along with some hints on a possible subshell structure at $N=106$ along the Hg and Pb isotopic chains. The study here could be a useful complement to the traditional route to probe alpha-cluster formation in medium-mass and heavy even-even nuclei using alpha-decay data. Especially, it would be helpful in the cases where the target nucleus is stable against alpha decay or alpha-decay data are currently not available.