Electromagnetic-radiation effects on alpha decay

Abstract

The effect of the electromagnetic radiation on the spontaneous charge emission from heavy atomic nuclei is estimated in a model which may be relevant for proton emission and alpha-particle decay in laser fields. Arguments are given that the electronic cloud in heavy atoms screens appreciably the electric field acting on the nucleus and the nucleus "sees" rather low fields. In these conditions, it is shown that the electromagnetic radiation brings second-order corrections in the electric field to the disintegration rate, with a slight anisotropy. These corrections give a small enhancement of the disintegration rate. The case of a static electric field is also discussed.