Speaker
Ivan Mukha
(Helholzzentrum Gesellschaft fur SchwerIonenforschung (GSI))
Description
Extremely proton-rich nuclei with odd or even atomic numbers were predicted by V. Goldansky in 1960
to decay through one- or two-proton radioactivity, respectively. Two-proton (2p) radioactivity, a
spontaneous decay of an atomic nucleus by emission of two protons, is the most recently discovered
nuclear disintegration mode. It has first been reported for 45Fe in 2002 with a half-life of about 4 ms,
which is 1000 times longer than the quasi-classical estimate of “di-proton” (or 2He) cluster emission.
Further observations of 2p radioactivity in 19Mg, 54Zn, 48Ni, 94mAg have confirmed unexpectedly large
half-lives of 2p precursors thus indicating regular existence of long-lived nuclei beyond the proton drip
line. The experimental methods used to produce, identify and detect new nuclear species via their 2p
decay will be reviewed. The up-to-date theoretical understanding of specific observables accessible in
the 2p decay measurements will be discussed with an emphasis on 2p-precursor's nuclear structure.
Primary author
Ivan Mukha
(Helholzzentrum Gesellschaft fur SchwerIonenforschung (GSI))
