$\alpha$ clustering slightly above ¹⁰⁰Sn in the light of the new experimental data on the superallowed $\alpha$ decay

Abstract.

The recently observed $\alpha$-decay chain ¹⁰⁸Xe $\rightarrow$¹⁰⁴Te $\rightarrow$¹⁰⁰Sn (K. Auranen et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 121, 182501 (2018)) could provide valuable information on the $\alpha$ clustering in even-even nuclei slightly above the major shells $Z=50$ and $N=50$. In this work, this $\alpha$-decay chain is studied theoretically within the framework of the density-dependent cluster model plus the two-potential approach. We calculate the $\alpha$-decay half-lives of ¹⁰⁴Te and ¹⁰⁸Xe and study in detail their dependence on the Q value and the density-profile parameters of the core nucleus. Various physical properties of ¹⁰⁴Te, the heaviest nucleus with a doubly magic self-conjugate core + $\alpha$, are calculated, with two different assumptions on the renormalization factor of the double-folding potential, which could be a useful reference for future experimental studies.