Alpha Decay Branching Ratios and Its Possible Implications Regarding Nuclear Structure

Abstract

In this dissertation work the α-branching ratios of 238Pu, 242Cm and 246Cf are calculated in the framework of the decay cluster model (DCM) by taking into account angular momentum of the α-particle and the excitation probability of the residual daughter nucleus. This is done using two approaches, the unified fission approach within which the preformation probability of α-fragment is taken as unity and preformed cluster approach in which the appropriate values of preformation probabilities are used in calculations. The calculated α-transition branching ratios are in good agreement with the experimental data.