©Author(s) 2022. Tis article is published with open access at https://jnp.chitkara.edu.in.
ISSN No.: 2321-8649(Print) ISSN No.: 2321-9289(Online); Registration No. : CHAENG/2013/51628
J. Nucl. Phys. Mat. Sci. Rad. A. Vol. 9, No. 2 (2022), pp.131–136
Journal of Nuclear Physics, Material Sciences,
Radiation and Applications
Journal homepage: https://jnp.chitkara.edu.in/
Theoretical Investigation of α-decay Chains of Fm-Isotopes
Joshua T. Majekodunmi
1,
N. Jain
2,
Shilpa Rana
2*,
K. Anwar
1,
N. Abdullah
1
M. Bhuyan
3,
and Raj Kumar
2
1
Institute of Engineering Mathematics, Faculty of Applied and Human Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Arau, 02600, Perlis,
Malaysia
2
School of Physics and Materials Science, Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Patiala, Punjab 147004, India
3
Center for Theoretical and Computational Physics, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur
50603, Malaysia
*
srana60_phd19@thapar.edu (Corresponding Author)
ARTICLE INFORMATION ABSTRACT
Received: December 25, 2021
Accepted: May 9, 2022
Published Online: June 20, 2022
Background: The theoretical and experimental investigations of decay properties of heavy and
superheavy nuclei are crucial to explore the nuclear structure and reaction dynamics.
Purpose: The aim of this study is to probe the α-decay properties of
243
Fm and
245
Fm isotopic chains
using the relativistic mean-feld (RMF) approach within the framework of the preformed cluster-decay
model (PCM).
Methods: The RMF densities are folded with the relativistic R3Y NN potential to deduce the nuclear
interaction potential between the α particle and daughter nucleus. The penetration probability is
calculated within the WKB approximation.
Results: The α-decay half-lives of even-odd
243
Fm and
245
Fm isotopes and their daughter nuclei are
obtained from the preformed cluster-decay model. These theoretically calculated half-lives are found
to be in good agreement with the recent experimental measurements.
Conclusions: The novel result here is the applicability of the scaling factor within the PCM as a
signature for shell/sub-shell closures in α-decay studies. We have also demonstrated that N=137, 139
and Z=94 corresponding to
231,233
Pu could be shell/sub-shell closures. The least T
1/2
is found at
243,245
Fm
which indicate their individual stability and α-decay as their most probable decay mode.
Keywords:
α-decay, Relativistic mean-feld,
Preformed cluster-decay model,
Preformation, Half-lives
DOI: 10.15415/jnp.2022.92020
1. Introduction
Alpha decay is the most prominent mode of decay in the
heavy and superheavy nuclei (SHN). Gamow [1], Gurney
and Condon [2] independently provided the frst theoretical
explanation of the alpha decay process through the
Quantum tunneling phenomenon. Since then, myriad of
experimental as well as theoretical eforts have been devoted
to probe the alpha decay properties of various nuclei [3-9].
Te study of alpha decay provides insightful information
about the nuclear structure, shell closure and fusion-fssion
dynamics [3-9]. Te detection of alpha decay chains from an
unknown nucleus followed by spontaneous fssion provides
an efcient tool to identify the synthesis of new elements in
superheavy region [6-9]. Moreover, the exploration of alpha
decay properties of actinides also plays an important role in
materials science [10].
Numerous theoretical models such as the generalized
liquid drop model (GLDM), multi-channel cluster model
(MCCM) and density dependent cluster model (DDCM)
etc. have been developed to probe the α-cluster radioactivity
[11-14]. Generally, the alpha particle is perceived to pre-
exist within the parent nucleus before its emission [15-17].
Te quantum mechanical fragmentation theory (QMFT)
based preformed cluster-decay model (PCM) also reinforces
the theory of α-preformation [18-20]. In the PCM, an
α-cluster is supposed to be preborn inside the parent nucleus
which afterwards penetrates the interaction barrier formed
due to the interplay between the attractive nuclear potential
and repulsive Coulomb potential [18-20]. Te deduction
of Coulomb potential formed between the daughter
nuclei and α-particle is straightforward unlike the nuclear
potential. Various phenomenological, semi-microscopic and
microscopic models have been adopted for the estimation of
nuclear potential [20] and references therein.
Te double folding approach [21] equipped with
relativistic mean-feld (RMF) densities and microscopic
R3Y nucleon-nucleon (NN) potential have also been