α decay of the new isotopes 193,194Rn

The new neutron-deficient isotopes Rn-193,Rn-194 have been identified in the complete fusion reaction Cr-52+Sm-144 -> Rn-196(*) at the velocity filter SHIP. The alpha-decay energy and half-life value of Rn-194 were determined to be E-alpha=7700(10) keV and T-1/2=0.78(16) ms, respectively. For Rn-193 the half-life of T-1/2=1.15(27) ms and two alpha lines at E-alpha 1=7685(15) keV, I-alpha 1=74(20)% and E-alpha 2=7875(20) keV, I-alpha 2=26(12)% were found. The decay pattern of Rn-193, which is substantially different from that of the heavier odd-A Rn isotopes, provides first experimental evidence for the long-predicted deformation in the very neutron-deficient Rn nuclei.