Decay Characteristics of Neutron Excess Strontium Nuclei

The properties of neutron excess strontium nuclei are predicted utilizing a single particle model. The single particle model calculations include alpha, beta, positron, electron capture, and spontaneous fission decay modes. Neutron emission decay modes that have short half-lives are not readily determined by the model. However, estimates of the neutron decay mode were evaluated using the methodology of Chowdhury et al. Using that model, spontaneous neutron emission is predicted to occur in the range of A = 121 – 123. The Japanese Nuclear Data Compilation terminate their calculations at A = 111. Given these results, strontium single particle model calculations are extended to encompass these values, and were extended to A = 120 with closure of the 1h11/2 neutron shell.

Single particle model calculations predict that A = 95 – 120 strontium nuclei form bound systems that have limiting beta decay half-lives in the range of 0.275 ms – 23.9 s. Model half-life results for the A = 108 – 111 neutron excess strontium nuclei are within a factor of about 2.6 of the predictions of the Japanese Nuclear Data Compilation calculations.