Estimation of the double alpha-decay half-life

The model for the description of the simultaneous emission of two alpha-particles from the opposite sides of the nucleus (the double alpha-decay) is discussed in detail. The 32 smallest values of the half-lives of the double alpha-decay of nuclei are calculated. The daughter nuclei formed after the double alpha-decay are even -even and spherical in the ground state in the model. It is shown that the half-lives of the double alpha-decay are much smaller than the emission of 8Be cluster with sequential decay of 8Be into two alpha-particles. The calculated values of the double alpha-decay half-lives show that measuring this decay is possible in the accelerator experiments by forming the proton-rich nuclei. A detailed comparison of the characteristics of the single and double alpha-decays as well as the emission of 8Be cluster is presented.(c) 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Funded by SCOAP3.

Automated summary

This article discusses the model for the simultaneous emission of two alpha-particles from the opposite sides of the nucleus (double alpha-decay) in detail. The 32 smallest values of the half-lives of double alpha-decay for nuclei are calculated. It is shown that the half-lives of double alpha-decay are much shorter than the emission of 8Be cluster with sequential decay into two alpha-particles. The results suggest that measuring this decay is possible in accelerator experiments by forming proton-rich nuclei.