Decay Characteristics of Neutron Excess Silicon 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 silicon nuclei suggests that the heaviest Z = 14 nucleus will have mass 54 with filling of the 1f5/2 neutron shell. A = 43 – 54 silicon isotopes have limited experimental half-life data, but the model predicts beta decay half-lives in the range of 0.442 – 8.06 ms. Based on previous calculations for Z = 9 -13, 20, 26, and 30 systems and comparisons to the 43Si, 44Si, 46Si, and 48Si calculations, summarized in the Japanese Nuclear Data Compilation, the single-particle model results likely overestimate the half-lives of A = 43 – 54 neutron excess silicon nuclei.