Alpha-decay lifetimes semiempirical relationship including shell effects

A new version of the semiempirical formula based on fission approach of alpha decay is derived, by using the optimum values of the fitting parameters determined for even-even nuclei, combined with hindrance factors for even-odd, odd-even, and odd-odd nuclides. The deviations from experimental data for two regions of nuclear chart (493 alpha emitters with Z=52-118 and 142 transuranium nuclei including superheavies (Z=92-118), respectively) are compared with those obtained by using the universal curve and the Viola-Seaborg semiempirical relationship.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figures, revtex

Potential energy surfaces for cluster emitting nuclei

Potential energy surfaces are calculated by using the most advanced asymmetric two-center shell model allowing to obtain shell and pairing corrections which are added to the Yukawa-plus-exponential model deformation energy. Shell effects are of crucial importance for experimental observation of spontaneous disintegration by heavy ion emission. Results for 222Ra, 232U, 236Pu and 242Cm illustrate the main ideas and show for the first time for a cluster emitter a potential barrier obtained by using the macroscopic-microscopic method.Comment: 10 pages, 21 figures, revtex

Deformation Energy Minima at Finite Mass Asymmetry

A very general saddle point nuclear shape may be found as a solution of an integro-differential equation without giving apriori any shape parametrization. By introducing phenomenological shell corrections one obtains minima of deformation energy for binary fission of parent nuclei at a finite (non-zero) mass asymmetry. Results are presented for reflection asymmetric saddle point shapes of thorium and uranium even-mass isotopes with A=226-238 and A=230-238 respectively.Comment: 5 pages, 2 Postscript figures, REVTeX, Version 4.

The Quasi-Molecular Stage of Ternary Fission

We developed a three-center phenomenological model,able to explain qualitatively the recently obtained experimental results concerning the quasimolecular stage of a light-particle accompanied fission process. It was derived from the liquid drop model under the assumption that the aligned configuration, with the emitted particle between the light and heavy fragment, is reached by increasing continuously the separation distance, while the radii of the heavy fragment and of the light particle are kept constant. In such a way,a new minimum of a short-lived molecular state appears in the deformation energy at a separation distance very close to the touching point. This minimum allows the existence of a short-lived quasi-molecular state, decaying into the three final fragments.The influence of the shell effects is discussed. The half-lives of some quasimolecular states which could be formed in the $^{10}$Be and $^{12}$C accompanied fission of $^{252}$Cf are roughly estimated to be the order of 1 ns, and 1 ms, respectively.Comment: 12 pages, 6 epsf, uses ws-p8-50x6-00.cl

Spontaneous heavy cluster emission rates using microscopic potentials

The nuclear cluster radioactivities have been studied theoretically in the framework of a microscopic superasymmetric fission model (MSAFM). The nuclear interaction potentials required for binary cold fission processes are calculated by folding in the density distribution functions of the two fragments with a realistic effective interaction. The microscopic nuclear potential thus obtained has been used to calculate the action integral within the WKB approximation. The calculated half lives of the present MSAFM calculations are found to be in good agreement over a wide range of observed experimental data.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Alpha decay half-lives of new superheavy elements

The lifetimes of $\alpha$ decays of the recently produced isotopes of the elements 112, 114, 116 and the element $^{294}118$ and of some decay products have been calculated theoretically within the WKB approximation using microscopic $\alpha$-nucleus interaction potentials. These nuclear potentials have been obtained by folding the densities of the $\alpha$ and the daughter nuclei with the M3Y effective interaction, supplemented by a zero-range pseudo-potential for exchange along with the density dependence. Spherical charge distributions have been used for calculating the Coulomb interaction potentials. These calculations provide reasonable estimates for the observed $\alpha$ decay lifetimes and thus provide reliable predictions for other superheavies.Comment: 7 page

Heavy particle radioactivities 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 208Pb. Calculations for superheavy (SH) nuclei with Z=104-124 are showing a trend toward shorter half-lives and larger branching ratio relative to alpha 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.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figurex, revtex4-

Hydrocephalus in Africa: A surgical perspective

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