Fine structure in the alpha decay of U-223

• Fine structure in the alpha decay of U-223 was observed in the fusion-evaporation reaction Re-187(Ar-40, p3n) by using fast digital pulse processing technique. Two alpha-decay branches of U-223 feeding the ground state and 244 keV excited state of Th-219 were identified by establishing the decay chain U-223 (alpha(1)) under right arrow Th-219 (alpha(2)) under right arrow Ra-215 (alpha(3)) under right arrow Rn-211. The alpha-particle energy for the ground-state to ground-state transition of U-223 was determined to be 8993(17) keV, 213 keV higher than the previous value, the half-life was updated to be 62(-10)(+14) mu s. Evolution of nuclear structure for N = 131 even-Z isotones from Po to U was discussed in the frameworks of nuclear mass and reduced alpha-decay width, a weakening octupole deformation in the ground state of U-223 relative to its lighter isotones Ra-219 and Th-221 was suggested.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Subatomär fysik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Subatomic Physics (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Fine structure

alpha decay

Spin and parity

Reduced alpha-decay width

Quadrupole-octupole deformation

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)