Work

Proton emission half-lives and shape coexistence for 71 ≤ Z ≤ 83 odd- Z nuclei

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: One-proton emission is a direct probe of nuclear structure near the proton drip line and plays a critical role in understanding exotic decay modes and nucleosynthesis processes. In this study, we investigate the half-lives of one-proton emitters for $71 \leq Z \leq 83$ odd-$Z$ nuclei by employing the WKB approximation with nuclear potentials obtained from the deformed relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov theory in continuum (DRHBc) and, for comparison, the relativistic continuum Hartree-Bogoliubov theory (RCHB). We first compare the calculated half-lives with available experimental data. The inclusion of quadrupole deformation via the DRHBc hardly contributes to improving the predictions of half-lives for the deformed nuclei. We find that all the studied nuclei exhibit ground states with $|β_{2,{\rm DRHBc}}| < 0.15$, and within this limited deformation range the spectroscopic factor provides the dominant contribution to the half-life, compared to the decay width. In particular, for nuclei exhibiting shape coexistence in DRHBc, such as $^{170}$Au, where the half-life varies significantly with the quadrupole deformation through its effect on the spectroscopic factor, we expect shape coexistence to exert a substantial influence on the variation of half-lives. Finally, we discuss the half-lives in consideration of shape coexistence. Our results indicate that the calculated half-life is governed not by the total-energy difference between coexisting minima but rather by the spectroscopic factor influenced by the deformation.

Source: Physical Review C

DOI: 10.1103/3mzz-nycn

Authors: Yongbeom Choi, Chang-Hwan Lee, Youngman Kim

Institutions: Beihang University, Pusan National University, Institute for Basic Science

Language: English

Topic: Nuclear physics research studies

Subfield: Nuclear and High Energy Physics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green