Decay Characteristics of Neutron Excess Fluorine Nuclei

Joseph Bevelacqua

doi:10.32388/24xll9

Abstract

In neutron star mergers, neutron excess nuclei and the r-process are important factors governing the production of heavier nuclear systems. An evaluation of fluorine nuclei suggests that the heaviest Z = 9 nucleus will have mass 43 with filling of the 2p1/2 neutron shell. A = 30 – 43 fluorine isotopes have limited experimental half-life data, but the model predicts beta decay half-lives in the range of 0.550 – 2.12 ms. Based on comparisons to lighter Z = 20 and 26 systems, these results likely overestimate the half-lives of A = 30 – 43 neutron excess fluorine nuclei.

Highlights

The nucleosynthesis of heavy elements occurs by three basic processes that add protons or neutrons to a nuclear system[1,2]
Neutron capture creates neutron-rich nuclei, and the resulting nuclear systems depend upon the rate of neutron addition and the beta decay rates of the residual nuclei
Refs. 14 and 15 further support the study of neutron excess fluorine systems in understanding the nucleosynthesis of heavier elements

Summary

Introduction

The nucleosynthesis of heavy elements occurs by three basic processes that add protons or neutrons to a nuclear system[1,2]. Understanding the r-process requires knowledge of the properties of neutron excess nuclei involved in creating heavy nuclear systems. This paper attempts to partially fill this void by calculating the decay properties of neutron excess systems that are important in nucleosynthesis These theoretical studies should assist in planning future experiments associated with neutron excess systems that are far removed from the line of stability. A recent study of fluorine isotopes in intermediate-mass stellar systems[14,15] concluded that oxygen fusion could occur at lower densities than initially assumed. This result suggests that intermediate-mass stars are more likely to encounter thermonuclear excursion rather than undergoing gravitational collapse. Refs. 14 and 15 further support the study of neutron excess fluorine systems in understanding the nucleosynthesis of heavier elements

Calculational Methodology

Results and Discussion

Conclusions