A TWO STEP MODEL OF CLUSTER FORMATION AND BARRIER PENETRATION IN RADIOACTIVE NUCLEIPhysics Department, Panjab University, Chandigarh-160014, India A new model is proposed for the mechanism of first the cluster formation and then penetration of the confining nuclear interaction barrier in radioactive nuclei. The clustering formation probability is given by the quantum mechanical fragmentation probability at the touching configuration, which de-excites itself to the ground state during its penetration through the interaction barrier. The WKB penetrability is solved analytically. Applications of the model are made to C-14 decay of Ra-222-224 and Ne-24 decay of U-232. KEYWORDS: radioactive decay, heavy clusters, theory, clustering formation and decay, analytical solution |