Experimental and Theoretical Aspects of Proton Radioactivity: Proton Decay of Spherical and Deformed Nuclei

Abstract

Proton radioactivity is a decay mode found only in nuclei beyond the proton drip line. It competes with alpha decay, positron decay, and electron capture. Proton decay is a quantum tunneling phenomenon, and the decay rate is governed by the properties of the potential barrier set up by the Coulomb, centrifugal, and nuclear potentials. This presents the opportunity to extract spectroscopic information on a nuclide beyond the proton drip line. Recent experimental developments will be presented, including gamma spectroscopy of proton emitters, and fine structure in proton decay. Calculations of proton decay rates for spherical and deformed proton emitters will be discussed.