CLUSTER RADIOACTIVITIES — PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

Abstract

The half-lives of cluster emitters predicted by the analytical superasymmetric fission model have been experimentally confirmed. Potential energy surfaces of cluster emitters are showing deep valleys due to the strong shell effect of the doubly magic daughter 208 Pb . Cluster radioactivities allow us to study transitions from a deformed parent nucleus, with a complex structure resulted from mixing of several single-particle states, to a spherical daughter possessing a pure well known state. Recently, preliminary data concerning the 14 C radioactivity of 223 Ac were reported. The following modes have been experimentally confirmed: 14 C , 20 O , 24,25 Ne , 28,30 Mg , and 32,34 Si ; lower limits for 18 O , 23 F and 26 Ne are available. We give a list of some other experiments which have a good chance to be performed in the future. Applications for true ternary fission, 2α-accompanied fission, and atomic clusters are outlined.