Decay Characteristics of Neutron Excess Chlorine Nuclei

Abstract

In neutron star mergers, neutron excess nuclei and the r-process are important factors governing the production of heavier nuclear systems. A single-particle model evaluation of chlorine nuclei suggests that the heaviest Z = 17 nucleus will have mass 62 with filling of the 1g9/2 neutron shell. A = 48 – 62 chlorine isotopes have limited experimental half-life data, but the model predicts beta decay half-lives in the range of 0.535 – 51.9 ms. Based on previous calculations for Z = 9 - 16, 20, 26, and 30 systems and comparisons to the 48Cl - 53Cl, and 55Cl calculations, summarized in the Japanese Nuclear Data Compilation, the single-particle model results likely overestimate the half-lives of A = 48 – 62 neutron excess chlorine nuclei.