Alpha radioactivity in heavy and super heavy elements

The alpha decay half lives and other characteristics of 190 even-even super heavy elements in the range 100 <= Z <= 120 has been determined within the Coulomb and Proximity Potential Model (CPPM). The computed Q values and log(10)(T-1/2) values plotted against neutron number of parent nuclei were studied and it was found that neutron shell closures in the super heavy region Occur at N = 162 and N = 184. The alpha decay half lives for parent nuclei with atomic number Z = 106 onwards were compared with experimental data and are found to be in good agreement with each other. A semi-empirical formula for alpha decay half lives has been formulated by making least squares tit to the available experimental data. The new semi-empirical formula was used for calculating half lives of isotopes of nuclei in the chosen range 100 <= Z <= 120. These results when compared with the corresponding experimental half life values and the Values calculated using GLDM and Viola-Seaborg systematics showed good agreement. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.