Theories of alpha-decay

The derivation of the width for α-decay is examined with particular emphasis on methods which do not involve arbitrary channel radii. A new method of treating the initial decaying states is introduced and the use of ambiguous phenomenological potentials is avoided. This method yields consistent and acceptable quantitative results for the g.s. to g.s. (ground state) transitions in even polonium isotopes and for the branching ratio for the decay of the isomeric state ^212mPo.