Decay characteristics of neutron excess iron nuclei

Abstract

In neutron star mergers, neutron excess nuclei and the r-process are important factors governing the production of heavy nuclear systems. An evaluation of iron nuclei suggests that the heaviest Z = 26 nucleus will have mass 76 with filling of the 1g9/2 neutron shell. A = 73‐76 iron isotopes have limited experimental half-life data, but the model predicts beta decay half-lives in the range of 20‐30 ms. Based on comparisons to Z = 20 and lighter Z = 26 systems, these results likely overestimate the experimental half-lives of these A = 73‐76 neutron excess iron nuclei.