Alpha Decay, Shell Structure, and New Elements

We systematically analyze the experimental data of alpha decay in even-even heavy nuclei far from stabilityand find that the Geiger-Nuttall law breaks for an isotopic chain when its neutron number is across a magic numberor there is a deformed subshell. This break can be used to identify new magic numbers of superheavy nuclei. It is alsodiscovered that there is a new linear relation between the logarithm of half-life and the reciprocal of the square root ofdecay energy for N = 126 and N = 152 isotones. It could be a new law of alpha decay for nuclei with magic neutronnumbers but the physics behind it is to be explored. The significance of these researches for the search of new elementsis discussed.     

超重核292-310122同位素链的α衰变和自发裂变的竞争

基于推广的液滴模型(GLDM) 理论框架,计算了292-310122 同位素链的 衰变和自发裂变的半衰期。计算时的基本输入量为两子核的质量数和电荷数以及反应Q 值。GLDM能很好地描述重核和超重核的 衰变和自发裂变过程。计算结果表明,A < 308 时在同位素链上N = 176~184 的区域α衰变为主要衰变模式。A > 308 时在同位素链上自发裂变为主要衰变模式。308122 是α衰变和自发裂变的分界点,暗示着N = 184 为中子幻数。Based on the framework of the Generalized Liquid Droplet Model (GLDM), alpha decay and spontaneous fission half-lives for 292-310122 isotopes are studied. The calculation of the basic inputs which only need the two fragmentmass numbers, charge numbers and the Q value. GLDM can describe alpha decay and spontaneous fission the nuclei. It is found that the alpha decay is the dominant mode of decay for isotopes with mass number A < 308, and for those with A > 308 spontaneous fission is dominant. The demarcation between alpha decay and spontaneous fission is at 308122, which shows the presence of a spherical neutron shell closure at N = 184.     

α preformation and penetration probability for heavy nuclei

The α preformation factor and penetration probability have been analyzed for even--even nuclei of Po, Rn, Ra using experimental released energies and α decay half-lives in the frame of the double folding model. It is shown that N=126 is a neutron magic number from α preformation and shell effects play an important role in α preformation. The closer the nucleon number is to the magic number, the more difficult α formation in the parent nucleus is. The preformation factor can supply information on the nuclear structure and the penetration probability mainly determines α decay half-life.     

New magic number, N = 16, near the neutron drip line

We have surveyed the neutron separation energies (S(n)) and the interaction cross sections (sigma(I)) for the neutron-rich p-sd and the sd shell region. Very recently, both measurements reached up to the neutron drip line, or close to the drip line, for nuclei of Z/=3), which shows the creation of a new magic number. A neutron-number dependence of sigma(I) shows a large increase of sigma(I) for N = 15, which supports the new magic number. The origin of the new magic number is also discussed.     

Neutron and proton shell closure in the superheavy region via cluster radioactivity in <Superscript>280–314</Superscript>116 isotopes

Based on the concept of cold valley in fission and fusion, the radioactive decay of superheavy^280–314116 nuclei was studied taking Coulomb and proximity potentials as the interacting barrier. It is found that the inclusion of proximity potential does not change the position of minima but minima become deeper which agrees with the earlier findings of Gupta and co-workers. In addition to alpha particle minima, the other deepest minima occur for ⁸Be, ^12,14C clusters. In the fission region two deep regions are found each consisting of several comparable minima, the first region centred on ²⁰⁸Pb and the second is around ¹³²Sn. The cluster decay half-lives and other characteristics are computed for various clusters ranging from alpha particle to ⁷⁰Ni. The computed half-lives for alpha decay match with the experimental values and with the values calculated using Viola-Seaborg-Sobiczewski (VSS) systematic. The plots connecting computed Q values and half-lives against neutron number of daughter nuclei were studied for different clusters and it is found that the next neutron shell closures occur at N = 162, 172 and 184. Isotopic and isobaric mass parabolas are studied for various cluster emissions and minima of parabola indicate neutron shell closure at N = 162, 184 and proton shell closure at Z = 114. Our study shows that ₁₆₂²⁷⁶114 is the deformed doubly magic and ₁₈₄²⁹⁸114 is the spherical doubly magic nuclei.      

有效液滴模型对超铅区结团放射性的研究

利用有效液滴模型计算了超铅区结团放射半衰期.在计算Gamow势垒穿透因子时采用了碎块体积不守恒以及有效惯性系数因子,并用有效的核半径常数公式代替原来的经验公式.理论计算得到的结团放射半衰期和实验值符合得很好,其半衰期对数值的均方差只有0.895.理论结果表明,有效液滴模型能充分反映N=126和Z=82的壳效应,并且在奇数结团25Ne,29Mg中出现了明显的奇偶质量摆动现象.另外,理论计算得到的结团半衰期基本符合盖革-努塔尔定律,并基于理论结果得到了一些关于盖革-努塔尔定律的有意义的结论.     

丰中子轻核新幻数N=16的解释(英文)

基于中子分离能的分析 ,Ozawa等提出丰中子轻核存在新幻数 N=1 6.对 N=1 6同中子素进行了形变和球形的相对论平均场计算 .相对论平均场的数值结果表明N=1 6同中子素有形状相变.这是一些丰中子核新幻数出现的可能原因. Based on the analysis of neutron-separation energies, Ozawa et al proposed a new magic number N =16 in light neutron-rich nuclei. The deformed and spherical relativistic mean-field(RMF) calculations have been carried out for N =16 isotones. The numerical relativistic mean-field results show there is a shape transition in N =16 isotones. This is the possible cause of the appearance of the new magic number in someneutron-rich nuclei.     

Shell evolution in neutron-rich nuclei: the single particle perspective

The isospin dependence of spin-orbit(SO)splitting becomes increasingly important as N/Z increases in neutron-rich nuclei.Following the initial independent-particle strategy toward explaining the occurrence of magic numbers,we systematically investigated the isospin effect on the shell evolution in neutron-rich nuclei within the Woods-Saxon mean-field potential and the SO term.It is found that new magic numbers N=14 and N=16 may emerge in neutron-rich nuclei if one changes the sign of the isospin-dependent term in the SO coupling,whereas the traditional magic number,N=20,may disappear.The magic number N=28 is expected to be destroyed despite the sign choice of the isospin part in the SO splitting,corresponding to the strength of the SO coupling term.Meanwhile,the N=50 and 82 shells may persist within the single particle scheme,although there is a decreasing trend of their gaps toward extreme proton-deficient nuclei.Besides,an appreciable energy gap appears at N=32 and 34 in neutron-rich Ca isotopes.All these results are more consistent with those of the interacting shell model when enhancing the strength of the SO potential in the independent particle model.The present study may provide a more reasonable starting point than the existing one for not only the interacting shell model but also other nuclear many-body calculations toward the neutron-dripline of the Segrèchart.     

稀土区对力强度的研究

在相对论平均场框架下系统地研究了稀土区同位素链的对力强度, 首次发现了 中子的对力强度G_n在中子幻数N=82处突然增大以及质子的对力强度G_p和中子的奇、偶性有关的特性, 证明了对力强度本质上是和核的壳层结构紧切相关. 另外, 还给出了计算对力强度G_n和G_p的一般公式.     

Role of 208Pb daughter nucleus and nuclear shell effects in trans‐lead cluster radioactivity by emission of neon clusters from 218–236U isotopes

In the present work, the cluster radioactivity of even A uranium isotopes (^218–236U) with the emission of both alpha‐like and non‐alpha‐like neon clusters (^{20,22,24,26,28}Ne) was studied. The decimal logarithm of half‐lives (expressed in seconds) were calculated by three different approaches based on (i) the single line of Universal curve (UNIV) for alpha and cluster radioactive decay, (ii) the Universal Decay law (UDL) and (iii) by considering a fission‐like model in which the interacting nuclear potential barrier was taken to be the sum of Coulomb and proximity potentials (CPPM) respectively. Based on the half‐lives calculated by using the three different approaches mentioned above, significance of the role of ²⁰⁸Pb nucleus (doubly magic nucleus) and nuclear shell effects in trans‐lead cluster radioactivity were investigated. The calculated half‐lives have also been compared with available experimental results. It was observed that cluster decay modes leading to the formation of ²⁰⁸Pb daughter nucleus have the lowest half‐lives. This implies that there is a shell closure at proton number (Z) = 82 and neutron number (N) = 126. Hence, it confirms the existence of nuclear shell effect and stresses the significance of role of ²⁰⁸Pb daughter nucleus in the trans‐lead cluster radioactivity. It can be noticed that the calculated half‐lives for several cluster decay modes are well within the present experimental upper limit for measurements (T_1/2 < 10³⁰S). These results may be useful for future experiments.     

传统中子幻数稳定性的研究

在考虑了BCS理论的相对论平均场模型框架内,通过系统研究N=8,20,28,50,82和126六条同中子素链中每个元素费米面附近的单粒子能级间隔、粒子数占有概率比以及原子核体系的粒子数偏离随质子数的变化规律,讨论了传统中子幻数的壳结构在从中子滴线区到质子滴线区整个核谱上的稳定性,预言只有在轻核的丰中子区域,传统的中子幻数效应才可能消失,并把计算结果和最近的文献报道作了比较. 关键词： 相对论平均场模型 能级间隔 占有概率 粒子数偏离     

Optimisation of a hybrid photoneutron source in a linear accelerator using GEANT4 and MCNPX Monte Carlo codes

The \(\alpha \) decay half-lives of hyper and normal isotopes of Po nuclei are studied in the present work. The inclusion of \(\Lambda \)–N interaction changes the half-life for \(\alpha \) decay. The theoretical predictions on the \(\alpha \) decay half-lives of normal Po isotopes are compared with experimental results and are seen to be matching well with each other. The neutron shell closure at \(N = 126\) is found to be the same for both normal and hypernuclei. The Geiger–Nuttal (G–N) law for \(\alpha \) decay is unaltered in the case of hypernuclei. The hypernuclei will decay into normal nuclei by mesonic or non-mesonic decay modes. Since the half-lives of normal Po nuclei are well within the experimental limits, our theoretical results suggest experimental verification of the \(\alpha \) emission from hyper Po nuclei in a cascade process.     

Properties and structure of N=Z nuclei within relativistic mean field theory

The axially deformed relativistic mean field theory with the force NLSH has been performed in the blocked BCS approximation to investigate the properties and structure of N=Z nuclei from Z=20 to Z=48.Some ground state quantities such as binding energies, quadrupole deformations, one/two-nucleon separation energies, root-mean-square (rms) radii of charge and neutron, and shell gaps have been calculated.The results suggest that large deformations can be found in medium-heavy nuclei with N=Z=38-42.The charge and neutron rms radii increase rapidly beyond the magic number N=Z=28 until Z=42 with increasing nucleon number, which is similar to isotope shift, yet beyond Z=42, they decrease dramatically as the structure changes greatly from Z=42 to Z=43.The evolution of shell gaps with proton number Z can be clearly observed.Besides the appearance of possible new shell closures, some conventional shell closures have been found to disappear in some region.In addition, we found that the Coulomb interaction is not strong enough to breakdown the shell structure of protons in the current region.     

Molecular structure of nuclei

Cluster structures of nuclei are discussed, with emphasis on nuclear clustering in unstable nuclei. The subjects we discuss are alpha condensed states, clustering in Be and B isotopes, and clustering in ³²Mg and ³⁰Ne. The subject of alpha cluster condensation comes from the clustering nature of dilute nuclear matter. We discuss that recent heavy-ion central collision experiments give us nice evidence of the clustering in dilute nuclear matter. We then present a new prediction of the existence of the “alpha cluster condensed states” in the self-conjugate 4n nuclei around the breakup threshold energy into n alpha-particles. As for the clustering in neutron-rich Be, we discuss the comparison between the antisymmetrized molecular-dynamics results and the recent experimental data, which shows that the clustering feature manifests itself very clearly in neutron-rich Be isotopes both in the ground and excited states. Clustering in Be isotopes near neutron dripline is intimately related to the breaking of the neutron magic number N = 8. We report our recent study about the possible relationship between the clustering and the breaking of the neutron magic number N = 20 in ³²Mg and ³⁰Ne. Received: 21 March 2002 / Accepted: 16 May 2002 / Published online: 31 October 2002 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: horiuchi@ruby.scphys.kyoto-u.ac.jp     

A systematic study of superheavy nuclei for Z = 114 and beyond using the relativistic mean field approach

We have studied the structural properties of even-even, neutron deficient, Z = 114–126, superheavy nuclei in the mass region A ∼ 270–320, using an axially deformed relativistic mean field model. The calculations are performed with three parameter sets (NL1, TM1 and NL-SH), in order to see the dependence of the structural properties on the force used. The calculated ground state shapes are found to be parameter dependent. For some parameter sets, many of the nuclei are degenerate in their ground state configuration. Special attention is given to the investigation of the magic structures (spherical shell closures) in the superheavy region. We find that some known magic numbers are absent and new closed shells are predicted. Large shell gaps appear at Z = 80, 92, (114), 120 and 138, N = 138, (164), (172), 184, (198), (228) and 258, irrespective of the parameter sets used. The numbers in parenthesis are those which correspond to relatively smaller gaps. The existence of new magic numbers in the valley of superheavy elements is discussed. It is suggested that nuclei around Z = 114 and N = 164 ∼ 172 could be considered as candidates for the next search of superheavy nuclei. The existence of superheavy islands around Z = 120 and N = 172 or N = 184 double shell closure is also discussed.     

Constraints on neutron skin thickness and symmetry energy of 208Pb through Skyrme forces and cluster model

We used the cluster structure properties of the 212Po to estimate the neutron skin thickness of 208Pb.For this purpose,we considered two important components:(a)alpha decay is a low energy phenomenon;therefore,one can expect that the mean-field,which can explain the ground state properties of 212Po,does not change during the alpha decay process.(b)212Po has a high alpha cluster-like structure,two protons and two neutrons outside its core nucleus with a double magic closed-shell,and the cluster model is a powerful formalism for the estimation of alpha decay preformation factor of such nuclei.The slope of the symmetry energy of 208Pb is estimated to be 75±25 MeV within the selected same mean-fields and Skyrme forces,which can simultaneously satisfy the ground-state properties of parent and daughter nuclei,as their neutron skin thicknesses are consistent with experimental data.     

Magic numbers in exotic nuclei and spin-isospin properties of the NN interaction

The magic numbers in exotic nuclei are discussed, and their novel origin is shown to be the spin-isospin dependent part of the nucleon-nucleon interaction in nuclei. The importance and robustness of this mechanism is shown in terms of meson exchange, G-matrix, and QCD theories. In neutron-rich exotic nuclei, magic numbers such as N = 8, 20, etc. can disappear, while N = 6, 16, etc. arise, affecting the structure of the lightest exotic nuclei to nucleosynthesis of heavy elements.     

Magic numbers of ultraheavy nuclei

For nuclei where the number of protons lies in the range 76 ≤ Z ≤ 400, proton and neutron shell corrections are calculated along the beta-stability line described by Green’s formula. The magic numbers of protons and neutrons are determined for ultraheavy nuclei. Alpha-decay half-lives and fission barriers are estimated for ultraheavy doubly magic nuclei.     

Peculiarities in fragment mass distribution in the 238U + 40Ar (243 MeV) reaction

A pronounced fine structure (FS) in the form of distinct peaks was observed in neutron gated mass spectra from the decay of the ²⁷⁸110 composite system produced in the reaction ²³⁸U + ⁴⁰Ar (243 MeV) at an initial excitation energy E ^* > 70 MeV. The FS peaks are located in the vicinity of mass numbers 70-80, 100, and 130, which correspond to those of magic nuclei (clusters). In the data there is also evidence for a new type of decay -- collinear cluster tripartition of an excited nucleus. Received: 8 August 2000 / Accepted: 2 February 2001