Probing the robustness of N=126 shell closure via the α decay systematics.

In the present work, the α decay half-lives for even-even polonium–uranium nuclei, including three isotopes 214 - 218 U Zhang et al. (in Phys Rev Lett 126:152502, 2021), are studied within the generalized liquid drop model with the total α decay energy-dependent α -particle preformation factors. The α -particle preformation factors extracted from the experimental α decay half-life are also investigated. The calculated α decay half-lives can reproduce the experimental data within a factor of 1.74. The systematics of α decay half-lives and α -particle preformation factors suggest that the shell effect of N = 126 closed-shell also exists in the Z = 92 uranium isotopes, although its robustness is weakening as the polonium isotope evolves towards the more proton-rich uranium isotope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]