α-particle preformation of heavy nuclei using proximity potential

The half lives for alpha decay have been calculated using four different versions of the proximity potential for the even even isotopes of all known alpha-emitters. Using the experimental half lives, the preformation probability (P-0) of alpha particle before emission is calculated. Also the assault frequency (nu(0)) is calculated through a modified formula. Half-lives obtained from the potential Prox 76 are minimum, and these values are used for calculating the preformation probability (P-0). Use of the potential Prox 76 in calculating P-0 is justified as it can best reproduce experimental Coulomb barriers among the four potentials. The trend of the values of P-0 versus the neutron number, N, and the proton number, Z, are in agreement with the shell model. The values of P-0 are also fitted using a four-parameter formula. (C) 2016 The Physical Society of the Republic of China (Taiwan). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.