Decay Characteristics of Neutron Excess Neon Nuclei

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 neon nuclei suggests that the heaviest Z = 10 nucleus will have mass 44 with filling of the 2p1/2 neutron shell. A = 33 – 44 neon isotopes have limited experimental half-life data, but the model predicts beta decay half-lives in the range of 0.635 – 1.97 ms. Based on previous calculations for Z = 9, 20, 26, and 30 systems, these results likely overestimate the half-lives of A = 33 – 44 neutron excess neon nuclei.