Competition of decay modes for \(Z=119\) and \(Z=120\) superheavy nuclei

Abstract

Synthesis of new elements with \(Z \ge 119\) is currently a forefront issue in modern nuclear physics. The central question then arises as to the stability and decay properties of these new elements. In this study, the competition between \(\alpha \)-decay, spontaneous fission, cluster radioactivity, and \(\beta \)-decay in the isotopic chains of \(Z=119\) and \(Z=120\) was investigated using the finite-range droplet model (FRDM) and Weizsäcker -Skyrme model (WS4). The Royer formula, Karpov formula, Universal Decay Law, and Sobhani formula were applied to analyze each respective decay mode. It was found that cluster radioactivity and \(\beta \)-decay is at a disadvantage in these isotopic chains, with \(\alpha \)-decay and SF being the dominant decay modes. For nuclei with longer half-lives for the dominant decay modes, \(\alpha \)-decay tends to be the most prevalent. \(N=184\) is a candidate for the neutron magic number based on WS4 and FRDM. In addition, the generalized liquid drop model with corrections for surface diffuseness effects was employed to study \(\alpha \)-decay across four different sets of mass models: FRDM, WS4, Koura–Tachibana–Uno–Yamada (KTUY) mass formula, and Niu2022. The calculation of \(\alpha \)-decay half-lives was further optimized through the use of the radial basis function network.