Impact of Tensor Interaction on Beta-Delayed Neutron Emission from Neutron-Rich Nickel Isotopes

The Skyrme energy density functional including tensor interaction is used to describe microscopically multineutron delayed-neutron emission accompanying beta decay of even–even neutron-rich nickel isotopes of mass number in the range of A = 74?80. The respective calculations are performed in the quasiparticle random-phase approximation with allowance for the two-phonon components of the wave function for states of the daughter nucleus. The properties of the lowest quadrupole excitation of ^74,76,78,80Ni are also studied. It is shown that a decrease in the strength of neutron–proton tensor interaction leads to a substantial hindrance of beta decay and to an increase in the probability for delayedneutron emission.