Competition between weak and alpha-decay modes in superheavy nuclei

Abstract

The competition between alpha- and beta+/EC-decay modes is studied systematically in nuclei along the alpha-decay chains following the synthesis of superheavy nuclei with Z = 119 and Z = 120. A microscopic approach based on deformed self-consistent Hartree-Fock mean-field calculations with Skyrme forces and pairing correlations is used to describe the beta+ and electron capture weak decays, whereas the alpha-decay is estimated from existing phenomenological expressions. It is shown that alpha-decay is in most cases the dominant decay mode, but interesting instances are identified where the half-lives are comparable, opening the possibility of new pathways towards more neutron-rich nuclei in this region.