New Class of Nuclear Decays Involving Virtual States of Intermediate Nuclei

Abstract

Nuclear reactions and decays belonging to a new class referred to as a virtual class since virtual intermediate states of $$A\geqslant 2$$ atomic nuclei at off-shell energies are involved in the amplitude of the widths with respect to such processes are studied by considering examples of two-proton and double-beta decays of nuclei, as well as spontaneous ternary fission of even–even actinide nuclei. The widths and angular distributions are calculated for two-protom decays of nuclei, and the half-lives of nuclei with respect to double-beta decay are also determined. The radii of the neck in fissioning nuclei and the heat of the binary fission of the intermediate nucleus in the ground state for spontaneous ternary fission of $${}^{248}$$ Cm, $${}^{250}$$ Cf, and $${}^{252}$$ Cf nuclei are estimated.