Theoretical decay half-lives of the heaviest odd-Z nuclei are calculated using the experimental Q value. The barriers in the quasimolecular shape path are determined within a Generalized Liquid Drop Model (GLDM) and the WKB approximation is used. The results are compared with calculations using the Density-Dependent M3Y (DDM3Y) effective interaction and the Viola-Seaborg-Sobiczewski (VSS) formulas. The calculations provide consistent estimates for the half-lives of the decay chains of these superheavy elements. The experimental data stand between the GLDM calculations and VSS ones in the most time. Predictions are provided for the decay half-lives of other superheavy nuclei within the GLDM and VSS approaches using the recent extrapolated Q of Audi, Wapstra, and Thibault [Nucl. Phys. A729, 337 (2003)], which may be used for future experimental assignment and identification.
We show that the Liquid Drop Model is best suited to describe the masses of prolate deformed nuclei than of spherical nuclei. To this end three Liquid Drop Mass formulas are employed to describe nuclear masses of eight sets of nuclei with similar quadrupole deformations. It is shown that they are able to fit the measured masses of prolate deformed nuclei with an RMS smaller than 750 keV, while for the spherical nuclei the RMS is, in the three cases, larger than 2000 keV. The RMS of the best fit of the masses of semi-magic nuclei is also larger than 2000 keV. The parameters of the three models are studied, showing that the surface symmetry term is the one which varies the most from one group of nuclei to another. In one model, isospin dependent terms are also found to exhibit strong changes. The inclusion of shell effects allows for better fits, which continue to be better in the prolate deformed nuclei region
We analyze the ability of the three different Liquid Drop Mass (LDM) formulas to describe nuclear masses for nuclei in various deformation regions. Separating the 2149 measured nuclear species in eight sets with similar quadrupole deformations, we show that the masses of prolate deformed nuclei are better described than those of spherical ones. In fact, the prolate deformed nuclei are fitted with an RMS smaller than 750 keV, while for spherical and semi-magic species the RMS is always larger than 2000 keV. These results are found to be independent of pairing. The macroscopic sector of the Duflo-Zuker (DZ) mass model reproduces shell effects, while most of the deformation dependence is lost and the RMS is larger than in any LDM. Adding to the LDM the microscopically motivated DZ master terms introduces the shell effects, allowing for a significant reduction in the RMS of the fit but still exhibiting a better description of prolate deformed nuclei. The inclusion of shell effects following the Interacting Boson Models ideas produces similar results.
The nuclear matrix elements of neutrinoless double-$beta$ decay for nuclei $^{76}$Ge, $^{82}$Se, $^{100}$Mo, $^{130}$Te, and $^{150}$Nd are studied within the triaxial projected shell model, which incorporates simultaneously the triaxial deformation and quasiparticle configuration mixing. The low-lying spectra and the $B(E2:0^+rightarrow2^+)$ values are reproduced well. The effects of the quasiparticles configuration mixing, the triaxial deformation, and the closure approximation on the nuclear matrix elements are studied in detail. For nuclei $^{76}$Ge, $^{82}$Se, $^{100}$Mo, $^{130}$Te, and $^{150}$Nd, the nuclear matrix elements are respectively reduced by the quasiparticle configuration mixing by 6%, 7%, 2%, 3%, and 4%, and enhanced by the odd-odd intermediate states by 7%, 4%, 11%, 20%, and 14%. Varying the triaxial deformation $gamma$ from $0^circ$ to $60^circ$ for the mother and daughter nuclei, the nuclear matrix elements change by 41%, 17%, 68%, 14%, and 511% respectively for $^{76}$Ge, $^{82}$Se, $^{100}$Mo, $^{130}$Te, and $^{150}$Nd, which indicates the importance of treating the triaxial deformation consistently in calculating the nuclear matrix elements.