The isovector nuclear density and improved description of cluster decay half-lives using isospin-dependent NN interaction

Abstract

The sensitivity of cluster-decay half-life time to the isospin effect of the nucleon–nucleon (NN) interaction and the neutron-skin thickness is explored in the framework of the Wentzel–Kramers–Brillouin approximation. Within the generalized double-folding model, the cluster-daughter potential is calculated in terms of the isoscalar and isovector parts using the explicit proton and neutron density distributions. Realistic density-dependent Michigan-three-Yukawa (CDM3Y1 and CDM3Y6) NN interactions with the finite-range exchange NN force are considered in the present work. The calculated cluster-decay half-lives including the isospin effect and the differences between neutron and proton density distributions are found to be in somewhat better agreement with the experimental data as compared without these effects. This may indicate the necessity of considering the isospin effect and the neutron–proton differences of the density distributions in cluster-decay, especially for extremely neutron-rich nuclei. Predictions of cluster decay half-lives from possible cluster emitters are presented which may be helpful for future experiments. The present study could be a significant step forward in improving the description of cluster decay half-lives.