Uncertainties in the empirical formulae for alpha decay half-lives of heavy and superheavy nuclei

Abstract

We have evaluated the alpha decay half-lives of heavy and superheavy nuclei where the experimental values are known using almost all semi-empirical formulae available in the literature. The deviation factor, root mean square value and Q -value sensitiveness of the formulae are evaluated for all the formulae available in the literature. From this detailed study it is found that the formula by Dong et al. (Nucl. Phys. A 832, 198 (2010)) and Wang et al. (J. Phys. G 42, 5 (2015)) has comparably smaller average deviation factor, less sensitive to Q -value, and the root mean square value is minimum. In addition to this we have also attempted a new simple formula for alpha decay half-lives.