A systematic calculation of alpha decay half-lives using a new approach for barrier penetration probability

Abstract

A systematic calculation of alpha decay half-lives of 347 nuclei is considered in the framework of the Wentzel–Kramers–Brillouin (WKB) approximation using two formulas. A recently proposed barrier penetration formula, with some modified parameters, is used first. Second, a new analytic barrier penetration formula is derived by taking into account the centrifugal potential. A good agreement with experimental data is achieved especially for spherical nuclei. The new formula reproduces experimental alpha decay half-lives with a satisfying accuracy especially for penetration energies much lower than the Coulomb barrier.