Some remarks on the discovery of Md-244

TL;DR

This paper critically examines conflicting decay data for Md-244 reported by recent studies, suggesting that some data attributed to Md-244 are more accurately assigned to Md-245, highlighting the need for clarification in isotope identification.

Contribution

The paper provides a comparative analysis of decay data, clarifying isotope assignments and addressing inconsistencies in recent discoveries of Md-244.

Findings

Data attributed to Md-244 are more consistent with Md-245.

Conflicting decay energies and half-lives suggest misassignment.

Some observed events likely originate from neighboring isotopes.

Abstract

In two recent papers by Pore et al. and Khuyagbaatar et al. discovery of the new isotope Md-244 was reported. The decay data, however, are conflicting. While Pore et al. report two isomeric states decaying by alpha emission with E(1)=8.66(2) MeV, T_1/2=0.4+0.4/-0.1s and E(2)=8.31(2) MeV, T_1/2 approx 6 s, Khuyagbaatar et al. report only a single transition with a broad energy distribution of E=(8.73-8.86) MeV and T_1/2=0.30/-0.09 s. The data published by Pore et al. very similar to those published for Md-245 (E=8.64(2), 8.68(2) MeV T_1/2=0.35+0.23/-0.16}$ s ). Therefore, we compare the data presented for Md-244 by Pore et al. with those reported for Md-245 by Ninov et al. and also by Khuyagbaatar et al.. We conclude that the data presented by Pore et al. shall be attributed to Md-245 with small contributions (one event each) from Fm-245 and probably Md-246.