Nuclei Near and at the Proton Dripline

Abstract

Nuclei in the vicinity of the proton dripline and beyond it are a fascinating realm within the chart of nuclei. In this chapter the main phenomena that characterize this domain and are not to be found elsewhere are explored. While moving away from the β-stability valley toward the proton dripline, phenomena like very exotic decay modes such as β-delayed (multi-)particle emission and one- or two-proton radioactivity are encountered. Landmark nuclei here are two isotopes with magic proton and neutron numbers, 48Ni and 100Sn. Moreover, proton-rich nuclei (N < Z) display other interesting features, like breaking of isospin symmetry with consequent asymmetry in the energy spectra between mirror nuclei, the so-called Thomas-Ehrmann shift, or the phenomenon of proton-halo. Last but not least, nuclei close to the proton dripline play a very important role in nucleosynthesis, since they take part in the rapid-proton capture process and their properties are crucial in defining the flow followed and its termination close to 100Sn.