Cluster radioactivity of heavy elements within an improved Coulomb and Proximity potential model.

The Coulomb and Proximity potential Model (CPPM) is improved by introducing an accurate empirical expression for the nuclear surface diffuseness parameter in the expression for the proximity potential. Within the improved CPPM, the decay half-lives of experimentally detected cluster emissions from heavy elements are calculated. The results of the calculations using the Universal Decay Law (UDL) [Qi <italic>et al.</italic>, <italic>Phys. Rev. Lett.</italic> <bold>103</bold> (2009) 072501], the improved empirical formula of Sahu <italic>et al.</italic> (ImSahuB) [Wang <italic>et al.</italic>, <italic>Chin. Phys. C</italic> <bold>45</bold> (2021) 044111], and the empirical formula of Horoi [<italic>J. Phys. G. Nucl. Part. Phys.</italic> <bold>30</bold> (2004) 945] are compared with the predictions of the improved CPPM. The lowest standard deviation is obtained for the predictions using the improved CPPM. The model’s predictive power increases significantly when the proximity potential is modified by including the diffuseness parameter. Furthermore, improved CPPM is employed to calculate the decay half-lives of undiscovered cluster emissions from heavy elements, a valuable information for upcoming experimental investigations. The calculated values are compared with the predictions of the UDL, Horoi formula and the improved empirical formula of Sahu <italic>et al.</italic> (ImSahuB). There is a high degree of agreement between the improved CPPM, UDL, and Horoi formula predictions. The ImSahuB formula predict decay half-life one or two order magnitudes lower than the predictions of the other models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]