Why should we investigate nuclides far off the stability line

Abstract

An analysis of the nuclear chart shows that there should exist more beta-instable nuclides (including neutron-, proton- and alpha-emitters) than hitherto observed. The half-lives of these radioactive nuclides fall in the region 10 −3–10 2 sec which is the experimental reason that they have not been studied very much so far. It is emphasized that new double magic regions will be found among these nuclides as well as new regions of stable deformation. Q β -values far off the stability line as well as a careful mapping of delayed neutron- and proton-emitters and alpha emitters will be of great importance for the semi-empirical mass formula. In addition half-lives and neutron separation energies are of astrophysical interest. Because of the high Q β -values expected, highly excited states will be populated and beta decay yields information which usually is reserved for nuclear reactions. The extension of the systematics of fission and spallation yields into the regions of very short half-lives may increase our understanding of fission as well as other nuclear reaction processes. The experimental study of these short-lived nuclides requires new experimental approaches which are discussed in the next paper.