Structure and decay modes study of Th, U, and Pu isotopes using relativistic mean field model

Abstract

In the present work, we have studied the structural properties, alpha and clusters (8Be, 12C, 16O, 20Ne, and 24Mg) decay half-lives for the Th, U, and Pu isotopes using the well-known Relativistic Mean-Field (RMF) theory with NL3* parameter set. We calculate the binding energy per nucleon, root-mean-square (rms) radii, two-neutron separation energies (S2n), and other observables. The results are in good agreement with the finite-range droplet model (FRDM) and experimental data. Using the calculated mass defect results from these calculations, the Effective liquid drop model (ELDM) has been used to determine alpha and cluster decay half-lives. The half-lives calculations are also carried out by using the latest empirical relations, namely Universal Decay Law (UDL), TM, VS, and the Scaling Law was given by Horoi et al., and their comparisons with ELDM results are found to be in good agreement. In the plots for log10T1/2 versus the neutron number of the daughter nucleus Nd in the corresponding decay, the half-life is found to have a minimum for the decay leading to nearly doubly magic or doubly magic daughter 208Pb nucleus (Nd=126). The Geiger-Nuttal plots for different clusters from various cluster radioactive (CR) emitters have been studied and they clearly show a linear behavior.