Assault frequency and preformation probability of the alpha emission process

A study of the assault frequency and preformation factor of the α-decay description is performed from the experimental α-decay constant and the penetration probabilities calculated from the generalized liquid-drop model (GLDM) potential barriers. To determine the assault frequency a quantum-mechanical method using a harmonic oscillator is introduced and leads to values of around 1021 s−1, similar to the ones calculated within the classical method. The preformation probability is around 10−1-10−2. The results for even-even Po isotopes are discussed for illustration. While the assault frequency presents only a shallow minimum in the vicinity of the magic neutron number 126, the preformation factor and mainly the penetrability probability diminish strongly around N=126

Systematical calculation of alpha decay half-lives with a generalized liquid drop model

International audienceA systematic calculation of α decay half-lives is presented for even-even nuclei between Te and Z=118 isotopes. The potential energy governing α decay has been determined within a liquid drop model including proximity effects between the α particle and the daughter nucleus and taking into account the experimental Q value. The α decay half-lives have been deduced from the WKB barrier penetration probability. The α decay half-lives obtained agree reasonably well with the experimental data