The newly developed multichannel cluster model (MCCM) based on the coupled-channel Schrödinger equation with outgoing wave boundary conditions is extended to study the $\alpha$-decay fine structure in heavy odd-$A$ nuclei. More decay channels are considered for convergence in solving the coupled equations. Calculations are performed for 32 deformed nuclei with atomic numbers $Z=93$–102. The branching ratios for various daughter states are well reproduced without any additional free parameters, and the calculated $\alpha$-decay half-lives show good agreement with the experimental data. This indicates that the MCCM has universal applicability and equal validity regardless of even-even or odd-$A$ $\alpha$ emitters.

• Received 28 October 2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.86.054608