Two-proton radioactivity of 45Fe

The decay of the extremely neutron-deficient isotope ⁴⁵Fe has been studied by using a new type of gaseous detector in which a technique of optical imaging is used to record tracks of charged particles. The two-proton radioactivity and the $ \beta$ -decay channels were clearly identified. For the first time, the angular and energy correlations between two protons emitted from the ⁴⁵Fe ground state were measured. The obtained results were confronted with predictions of a three-body model.     

Two-proton radioactivity search

Two-proton radioactivity, a spontaneous breakup of elements with emission of two protons, was predicted to exist near the proton drip line by V.I. Goldansky long time ago. The recent theoretical and experimental progress in a search for such an exotic nuclear decay is reviewed. In theory, the new three-body model which treats two-proton radioactivity as a genuine three-particle nuclear decay is considered. In experiment, the first evidence for two-proton decay of ⁴⁵Fe is described. Four atoms of ⁴⁵Fe, produced at the fragment separator of GSI, decayed via particle emission with a total energy of 1.1(1) MeV and a half-life of 3.2 _?1.0 ^+2.6 ms. A possible experiment for a direct observation of two-proton emission from the ground state of ¹⁹Mg is considered for its decay in-flight. The half-life of ¹⁹Mg, as well as proton-proton correlations, might be derived from the distribution of the ¹⁹Mg decay vertices extrapolated from the measured trajectories of all fragments.     

Two-proton correlations in the decay of 45Fe

The decay of extremely neutron-deficient 45Fe has been studied in detail by means of a novel type of a gaseous detector employing digital imaging to record tracks of charged particles. The two-proton radioactivity channel was clearly identified. For the first time, the angular and energy correlations between two protons emitted from the nuclear ground state were determined, indicating the genuine three-body character of this decay. The half-life of 45Fe was found to be 2.6+/-0.2 ms and the observed 2p decay branching ratio is 70+/-4%.     

Two-proton radioactivity of exotic nuclei beyond proton drip-line

To search for new candidates of the true and simultaneous two-proton(2 p) radioactivity, the 2 p decay energies(Q2 p) are extracted by the Weizs?cker–Skyrme-4(WS4) model, the finite-range droplet model(FRDM), the Koura–Tachibana–Uno–Yamada(KTUY) model and the Hartree–Fock–Bogoliubov mean-field model with the BSk29 Skyrme interaction(HFB29). Then, the 2 p radioactivity half-lives are calculated within the generalized liquid drop model by inputting the four types of Q2 pvalues. By the energy and half-life constraints, it is found that the probable 2 p decay candidates are the nuclei beyond the proton-drip line in the region of Z≤50 based on the WS4 and KTUY mass models. For the FRDM mass model, the probable 2 p decay candidates are found in the region of Z≤44. However, the 2p-decaying candidates are predicted in the region of Z≤58 by the HFB29 mass model. It means that the probable 2 p decay candidates of Z50 are only predicted by the HFB29 mass model. Finally, the competition between the true 2p radioactivity and α-decay for the nuclei above the N=Z=50 shell closures is discussed. It is shown that ~(101)Te,~(111)Ba and ~(114)Ce prefer to 2p radioactivity and the dominant decay mode of ~(107)Xe and ~(116)Ce is α-decay.     

Two-proton radioactivity within Coulomb and proximity potential model

Considering the preformation probability of the two emitted protons in the parent nucleus, we extend the Coulomb and proximity potential model (CPPM) to systematically study two-proton (2p) radioactivity half-lives of the nuclei close to proton drip line. The proximity potential chosen is Prox. 81 proposed by Blocki et al. in 1981. Furthermore, we apply this model to predict the half-lives of possible 2p radioactive candidates whose 2p radioactivity is energetically allowed or observed but not yet quantified in the evaluated nuclear properties table NUBASE2016. The predicted results are in good agreement with those from other theoretical models and empirical formulas, namely the effective liquid drop model (ELDM), generalized liquid drop model (GLDM), Gamow-like model, Sreeja formula and Liu formula.     

Two-proton radioactivity of ground and excited states within a unified fission model

A unified fission model is extended to study two-proton radioactivity of the ground states of nuclei, and a good agreement between the experimental and calculated half-lives is found. The two-proton radioactivity half-lives of the ground states of some probable candidates are predicted within this model by inputting the released energies taken from the AME2020 table. It is shown that the predictive accuracy of the half-lives is comparable to those of other models. Then, two-proton radioactivity of the excited states of ¹⁴O, ^17,18Ne, ²²Mg, ²⁹S, and ⁹⁴Ag is discussed within the unified fission model and two analytical formulas. It is found that the experimental half-lives of the excited states are reproduced better within the unified fission model. Furthermore, the two formulas are not suitable for the study of two-proton radioactivity of excited states because their physical appearance deviates from the mechanism of quantum tunneling, and the parameters involved are obtained without including experimental data from the excited states.     

Two-proton multiplets in Po

The ²⁰⁹Bi(α,t)²¹⁰Po reaction at 45 MeV has been used to study ²¹⁰Po. Many new levels have been observed and proton configurations are suggested for the lowest three multiplets.     

XANES investigations of interatomic interactions in multilayered nanostructures (Co45Fe45Zr10/a-Si)40 and (Co45Fe45Zr10/SiO2)32

The electronic structure and phase composition of amorphous multilayered nanostructures (Co₄₅Fe₄₅Zr₁₀/a-Si)₄₀ and (Co₄₅Fe₄₅Zr₁₀/SiO₂)₃₂ have been investigated by means of the X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) technique, which is the most sensitive and useful in investigation of the chemical environment of elements in multicomponent nanostructures. The fact of interatomic interactions leading to the formation of composite “nanoferrite”-like FeO · Fe₂O₃ · ZrO₂(CoO) was established. Also it was shown that in the mentioned nanoferrite there is an exchange interaction which involves not only two- and three-charged ions of iron (Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺) but also ions like Zr⁴⁺ and, partially, Co²⁺. The transformation of the thin structure of L _2,3-ranges for the iron component of multilayered nanostructures in XANES spectra reflects on the change of the ratio of di- and trivalent ions in iron oxides as a part of the composite “nanoferrite.”     

First evidence for the two-proton decay of 45Fe

Decays of five ⁴⁵Fe atoms have been observed at the fragment separator of GSI. Whereas one event is consistent with the β-decay of ⁴⁵Fe accompanied by the emission of a 10 MeV proton, four decays are consistent with the emission of particle(s) of total energy 1.1±0.1 MeV. This observation represents the first evidence for two-proton ground-state radioactivity, a decay mode predicted for ⁴⁵Fe. The time distribution of the observed decay events corresponds to a half-life of 3.2^+2.6 _-1.0 ms. Received: 17 May 2002 / Accepted: 28 May 2002     

X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy investigations of atomic interactions in surface layers of multilayered nanostructures (Co45Fe45Zr10/a-Si)40 and (Co45Fe45Zr10/SiO2)32

The interatomic interaction and chemical state of elements in amorphous multilayered (Co₄₅Fe₄₅Zr₁₀/a-Si)₄₀ and (Co₄₅Fe₄₅Zr₁₀/SiO₂)₃₂ nanostructures with different interlayers have been investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy using synchrotron radiation. The results of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy investigations have demonstrated that, in surface layers of all the studied multilayered structures, the metallic layer components Co, Fe, and Zr are in the oxidized state. The silicon state is found to be identical and close to the state of nonstoichiometric silicon oxide, regardless of the presumed compositions of SiO₂ and a-Si interlayers. After the removal of surface layers of the multilayered structures in the sample preparation chamber by ion etching, the metallic layer components Co, Fe, and Zr are predominantly in the elemental state.     

Two-proton neutron-hole yrast excitations in 66 147 Dy81

The level structure of theN=81 nucleus¹⁴⁷Dy has been studied byγ-ray spectroscopy following reactions of 230–250 MeV^58,60Ni beams on⁸⁹Y and^90,92Zr targets. Yrast and near-yrast levels in¹⁴⁷Dy above the known 59-s 11/2^? state are established up to ～3.7 MeV; they include isomeric levels at 2,681, 3,407 and 3,650 keV. Guided by the results of shell model calculations, we interpret most of the observed level as senioritythree states arising from the coupling ofs _1/2,d _3/2, andh _11/2 neutron holes withπh _11/2 ².     

邮票上的物理学史(48)——人工放射性

约里奥 -居里夫妇错失了发现中子和正电子的机会 ,但他们是聪明能干的实验物理学家 ,又有很好的实验条件 ,“失之东隅 ,收之桑榆” ,就像卢瑟福预言的那样 ,他们因另一项工作———发现人工放射性获得了 1 935年诺贝尔化学奖 .1 934年 ,他们用钋的α射线轰击铝箔 ,发现当α源移去后 ,铝箔有放射性 ,其强度随时间按负指数律下降 .这种放射性是由α粒子打在铝 2 7上发出一个中子形成磷 30 ,α + 2 7Ａｌ→ｎ+ 3 0 Ｐ而磷 30不稳定又发射正电子　3 0 Ｐ→3 0 Ｓｉ+ｅ+ +ν而产生的 ,他们还发现其他一些由α粒子轰击而生成的放射性同位素 .现在 …     

Time-dependent Calculations for Two-proton Decay Width with Schematic Density-dependent Contact Pairing Interaction

We calculate the two-proton decay width of the 6Be nucleus employing the schematic densitydependent contact potential for the proton-proton pairing interaction. The decay width is calculated with a time-dependent method, in which the two-proton emission is described as a time-evolution of a threebody meta-stable state. Model-dependence of the two-proton decay width has been shown by comparing the results obtained with the two different pairing models, schematic density-dependent contact and Minnesota interactions, which have zero and finite ranges, respectively.     

Two-proton small-angle correlations in central heavy-ion collisions: A beam-energy- and system-size-dependent study

Small-angle correlations of pairs of protons emitted in central collisions of Ca + Ca, Ru + Ru and Au + Au at beam energies from 400 to 1500MeV per nucleon are investigated with the FOPI detector system at SIS/GSI Darmstadt. Dependences on system size and beam energy are presented which extend the experimental data basis of pp correlations in the SIS energy range substantially. The size of the proton-emitting source is estimated by comparing the experimental data with the output of a final-state interaction model which utilizes either static Gaussian sources or the one-body phase-space distribution of protons provided by the BUU transport approach. The trends in the experimental data, i.e. system size and beam energy dependences, are well reproduced by this hybrid model. However, the pp correlation function is found rather insensitive to the stiffness of the equation of state entering the transport model calculations.     

First direct observation of two protons in the decay of 45Fe with a time-projection chamber

The decay of the ground-state two-proton emitter 45Fe was studied with a time-projection chamber and the emission of two protons was unambiguously identified. The total decay energy and the half-life measured in this work agree with the results from previous experiments. The present result constitutes the first direct observation of the individual protons in the two-proton decay of a long-lived ground-state emitter. In parallel, we identified for the first time directly two-proton emission from 43Cr, a known beta-delayed two-proton emitter. The technique developed in the present work opens the way to a detailed study of the mechanism of ground state as well as beta-delayed two-proton radioactivity.     

Heavy-particle radioactivity of superheavy nuclei

The concept of heavy-particle radioactivity (HPR) is changed to allow emitted particles with Z(e) > 28 from parents with Z > 110 and daughter around (208)Pb. Calculations for superheavy (SH) nuclei with Z = 104-124 are showing a trend toward shorter half-lives and larger branching ratio relative to α decay for heavier SHs. It is possible to find regions in which HPR is stronger than alpha decay. The new mass table AME11 and the theoretical KTUY05 and FRDM95 masses are used to determine the released energy. For 124 we found isotopes with half-lives in the range of ns to ps.     

Two-proton correlations in the target fragmentation region of nuclear collisions at 200A GeV

Correlations between protons are studied in the target fragmentation region of reactions of protons and¹⁶O with C, Cu, Ag, Au and of³²S with Al and Au at 200A GeV. The emitted protons were measured with the Plastic Ball detector in the WA80 experiment at the CERN SPS. The comparison of the correlation function with calculations, assuming a spherical, gaussian shaped source with a lifetime τ=0 fm/c, allows the extraction of radius parameters. The values are very close to those expected from the geometry of the target nuclei and increase with the target mass as αA _Target ^1/3 . Even in proton induced reactions the whole target nucleus is involved. The dependence of the radii on centrality, polar angleθ _lab, and energy, and their relation to measured proton yields are presented.