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Unified approach to alpha decay calculations

Publication Type : Journal Article

Publisher : Pramana - Journal of Physics

Source : Pramana - Journal of Physics, Indian Academy of Sciences, Volume 82, Number 5, p.868-878 (2014)

Url : http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84899806878&partnerID=40&md5=90b26a9ff19c0670c447a69d9c6df881

Keywords : Approximation methods, Barrier penetration, Decay (organic), Half-life, Nuclear physics, Q-values, S-matrix, Scattering parameters, Theoretical methods, Transmission coefficients, Wentzel-kramers-brillouin

Campus : Coimbatore

School : School of Engineering

Department : Sciences

Verified : Yes

Year : 2014

Abstract : With the discovery of a large number of superheavy nuclei undergoing decay througha emissions, there has been a revival of interest in α decay in recent years. In the theoretical study of α decay the a-nucleus potential, which is the basic input in the study of a-nucleus systems, is also being studied using advanced theoretical methods. In the light of these, theWentzel-Kramers-Brillouin (WKB) approximation method often used for the study of a decay is critically examined and its limitations are pointed out. At a given energy, theWKB expression uses barrier penetration formula for the determination of the transmission coefficient. This approach utilizes the a-nucleus potential only at the barrier region and ignores it elsewhere. In the present era, when one has more precise experimental information on decay parameters and better understanding of a-nucleus potential, it is desirable to use a more precise method for the calculation of decay parameters. We describe the analytic S-matrix (SM) method which gives a procedure for the calculation of decay energy and mean life in an integrated way by evaluating the resonance pole of the S-matrix in the complex momentum or energy plane. We make an illustrative comparative study of WKB and S-matrix methods for the determination of decay parameters in a number of superheavy nuclei. © Indian Academy of Sciences.

Cite this Research Publication : C. S. Shastr, Dr. Mahadevan S., and Aditya, K., “Unified approach to alpha decay calculations”, Pramana - Journal of Physics, vol. 82, pp. 868-878, 2014.

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