Fine structure in the alpha decay of Po-188,Po-192

The alpha decay of Po-188,Po-192 has been reexamined in order to probe the 0(+) states in the daughter nuclei Pb-184,Pb-188 that can be associated with coexisting spherical, oblate, and/or prolate configurations. Improved values were measured for the excitation energy and the feeding alpha -decay intensity of the 0(2)(+) state in Pb-184,Pb-188 and conflicting results on the 0(3)(+) state in Pb-188 were clarified. All known cases of fine structure in the alpha decay of the even-even Po nuclei are reviewed. The reduced alpha-decay width systematics combined with potential-energy-surface calculations confirm the onset of deformation in the ground state of the polonium nuclei around the neutron midshell. An isomeric state with a half-life of 580(100)ns has been identified in Po-192 . ispartof: Physical Review C vol:68 issue:5 pages:1-7 status: published