The structural and decay properties of francium isotopes

We study the bulk properties such as binding energy (BE), root-mean-square (RMS) charge radius, quadrupole deformation etc. for francium (Fr) isotopes having mass number A = 180–240 within the framework of relativistic mean field (RMF) theory. Systematic comparisons are made between the calculated results from RMF theory, Finite Range Droplet Model (FRDM) and the experimental data. Most of the nuclei in the isotopic chain shows prolate configuration in their ground state. The α-decay properties like α-decay energy and the decay half-life are also estimated for three different chains of ¹⁹⁸Fr, ¹⁹⁹Fr and ²⁰⁰Fr. The calculation for the decay half-life are carried out by taking two different empirical formulae and the results are compared with the experimental data. (author)