New-ALPHAD code for Hindrance Factors

and updated r0 parameters for e-e nuclei

Sukhjeet Singh, Sushil Rathi (Akal University, India)

Balraj Singh (McMaster Univ.) (Presenter)
A.K. Jain (IIT, Roorkee, India)
IAEA-NSDD-Meeting, Berkeley, California
May 22-26, 2016
 The ALPHAD code
Calculates theoretical partial half-lives for alpha transitions to
the excited states using spin-independent formalism of M.A.
Preston: PR 71, 865 (1947).

Deduces alpha-hindrance factors for alpha transitions to the

excited states. HF=partial T1/2(exp)/partial T1/2(theory)

In even-even nuclei, for ground state to ground state transitions,

deduces r0 radius parameter with the assumption that HF=1 for
such transitions, using Preston’s formalism.
 Odd-A or odd-odd nuclei
At present, r0 radius parameter needed for HF calculations
is deduced manually from r0 parameters given for
neighboring e-e nuclides given in Yurdanur Akovali’s r 0 table
in 1998Ak04: NDS 84, 1.
1998Ak04 table of r0 values has now been updated to
current date by incorporating Q(alpha) values from AME-
2016, new data for half-lives, decay branching ratios, and
alpha-particle branches.
182 alpha decays of known e-e nuclei from Z=52 to 118
were analyzed to deduce r0 parameters.
 New-ALPHAD
• For each decay, half-lives, branching ratios and
alpha branches from all literature (new since
the literature cutoff date in ENSDF as well as
the old literature) were checked and re-
evaluated when necessary.
• The updated r0 table is used as a default input
file for running the code for odd-A and odd-
odd alpha-decay datasets.
• User has the option of overriding the table
values and specifying r0 parameter of choice.
 For alpha-decay datasets
• Input File: standard alpha-decay dataset in
ENSDF format. Parent record must have level
energy, half-life and Q value (e.g. from
2016Wa10: AME-2016).
• The r0 parameter in the previous version of
ALPHAD, must be explicitly stated in the input
data file.
• In the revised ALPHAD-NEW code, r0 is computed
by the code for odd-A and odd-odd cases.
 Output files

•Report file: gives detail of calculation.

Note: there is a bug in the original ALPHAD: wrongly assumes
100 % branch when none given, and gives very low HF.
Tim Johnson at NNDC is looking into this problem.
•Updated ENSDF-formatted data file with HF included, and
in revised ALPHA-D code, also statement added for
deduced r0 parameter.
Systematics: Rn and Ra
Systematics: Po and Th
Systematics: Cf and Fm
Systematics: Hg and Pb
 Future Plan

• Complete systematics for all relevant Z from

52 to 118.
• Deduce r0 parameters for odd-A and odd-odd
nuclides, and study systematics of such
systems if possible.
• Systematics of Hindrance factors and
relevance to JPI assignments, as done about
40 years back by Marcel Schmorak at ORNL.