One-proton emission of $^{102}$Sb and its sensitivity to proton-neutron interaction

TL;DR

This paper investigates the one-proton emission from $^{102}$Sb, exploring how the proton-neutron interaction influences its stability and decay, using three-body calculations and comparing with other nuclei to understand pairing correlations.

Contribution

It introduces a theoretical analysis of $^{102}$Sb's proton emission sensitivity to proton-neutron interaction strength, highlighting the potential for experimental observation to benchmark pairing correlations.

Findings

$^{102}$Sb's ground state may be a proton emitter under certain $pn$ interaction conditions.

The lifetime of $^{102}$Sb's proton emission is estimated to be at least $4.4 imes 10^{-18}$ seconds.

A shift from unbound to bound states is demonstrated by varying the $pn$ interaction strength.

Abstract

One-proton emission from the $^{102}$Sb nucleus is discussed, assuming an inert $^{100}$Sn core and the valence proton and neutron. There are experimentally measured bound states in the $^{100}$Sn-neutron system, whereas no particle-bound $^{100}$Sn-proton state has been observed. With time-dependent three-body calculations, the $1^+$ ground state of $^{102}$Sb is suggested as a possible proton emitter. This conclusion is reached by assuming a weakening effect on the proton-neutron ($pn$) interaction with respect to a bare deuteron. An analogous phenomenon is necessary to reproduce the empirical binding energies of $^{42}$Sc and $^{18}$F. Continuous shift from the unbound to bound regions by changing the $pn$-interaction strength is demonstrated. The lower limit of lifetime is evaluated as $\tau \gtrsim 4.4 \times 10^{-18}$ seconds in the no-$pn$-interaction limit. However, the actual lifetime is expected as longer with a finite $pn$ interaction. Observation of a resonant state in $^{102}$Sb and its decay would provide a benchmark of the $pn$-pairing correlation.