New Geiger-Nuttall law for α decay of heavy nuclei

Yuejiao Ren and Zhongzhou Ren
Phys. Rev. C 85, 044608 – Published 10 April 2012

Abstract

Recent α-decay data of heavy nuclei are collected and systematic analysis shows that there is a sudden change between the logarithm of decay half-life and the reciprocal of the square root of decay energy across the N=126 shell closure. In order to reproduce this sudden change, the new Geiger-Nuttall law is proposed where the effects of the quantum numbers of α-core relative motion are naturally embedded in the law. The remedy achieved by a very simple parametrization of these effects is remarkable. By adding terms to the Geiger-Nuttall law, the parameters in the formula of decay half-lives need not be changed, except for some odd nuclei. This is an important development to the original Geiger-Nuttall law, which is valid for the ground-state transitions of even-even nuclei with N128. The law is generalized to the favored and hindered transitions of the N128 nuclei and of high-spin isomers. The results of this article point to the simplicity of the underlying mechanism of the decay.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 12 February 2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.85.044608

©2012 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Yuejiao Ren and Zhongzhou Ren*

  • Department of Physics, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China

  • *Corresponding author: zren@nju.edu.cn

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 85, Iss. 4 — April 2012

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review C

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×