Accurate estimation of the neutron and fission decay widths for hot fusion reactions

Yanez et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 112, 152702 (2014)] measured unusually high neutron decay width for the hot fusion reaction 25,26Mg + 248Cm compared to the theoretical estimations available till that date. Various theoretical models have been developed since then to upgrade our understanding of the phenomenon but good agreement is not yet achieved. We have made an attempt for the same, which is based on a modified back-shifted Fermi gas model that also includes the shell and pairing energy correction. Though it works well for the neutron decay, it needs a dissipative effect also to evaluate the fission decay width correctly. It predicts the neutron to total decay width ratio 0.82-0.89 for dissipation coefficients 15-22 and thus closed to the measured value 0.89 +/- 0.13.

Automated summary

Yanez et al. found unusually high neutron decay width in the hot fusion reaction and proposed a modified model to explain this phenomenon. The model considers shell and pairing energy corrections and shows good prediction for neutron decay, but requires the inclusion of dissipative effects to accurately evaluate the fission decay width.