Alpha decay hindrance factors and reflection asymmetry in nuclei

All available hindrance factors of alpha transitions to low-lying negative-parity states in doubly even nuclei, to odd-A parity doublets and to doubly odd parity doublet bands, are used to study the systematics of reflection asymmetry in the A∼218--230 region. Special attention is given to the polarization effect of the odd particle in increasing reflection asymmetry and therefore decreasing hindrance factors to the opposite parity states of octupole bands