Systematics of α-decay fine structure in odd-mass nuclei based on a finite-range nucleon–nucleon interaction

Abstract

A systematic study on α-decay fine structure is presented for odd-mass nuclei in the range 83≤Z≤92. The α-decay partial half-lives and branching ratios to the ground and excited states of daughter nuclei are calculated in the framework of the Wentzel–Kramers–Brillouin (WKB) approximation with the implementation of the Bohr–Sommerfeld quantization condition. The microscopic α-daughter potential is obtained using the double-folding model with a realistic M3Y-Paris nucleon–nucleon (NN) interaction. The exchange potential, which accounts for the knock-on exchange of nucleons between the interacting nuclei, is calculated using the finite-range exchange NN interaction which is essentially a much better approximation as compared to the zero-range pseudo-potential adopted in the usual double-folding calculations. Our calculations of α-decay fine structure have been improved by considering the preformation factor extracted from the recently proposed cluster formation model on basis of the binding energy difference. The computed partial half-lives and branching ratios are compared with the recent experimental data and they are in good agreement.