The spontaneous emission of 14-C, 20-O, 23-F, (22,24-26)-Ne, (28, 30)-Mg
and (32-34)-Si from parent nuclei with Z = 87-96 have been experimentally
observed since 1984 in Oxford, Orsay, Moskow, Berkeley, Geneva, Dubna,
Argonne, Vienna , Milano,  Livermore, Beijing confirming earlier predictions within a
german-romanian cooperation.

The most frequently cited paper, considered to be the starting point, is:

              NEW TYPE OF DECAY OF HEAVY NUCLEI
           INTERMEDIATE BETWEEN FISSION AND ALPHA-DECAY,
           by A. Sandulescu, D. N. Poenaru and W. Greiner,
         Soviet Journal Particles and Nuclei 11 (1980) 528-541.
 

Other contributors to this field from IFIN-HH, Department of Heavy Ion Physics and Department of Theoretical Physics, as well as from The Institut fuer Theoretische Physik der Johann-Wolfgang Goethe Universitaet, Frankfurt am Main are either co-authors of the papers listed below, or can be found
at the following web sites:

http://tandem.nipne.ro
http://www.theory.nipne.ro
http://www.th.physik.uni-frankfurt.de
 

This phenomenon has received a wide popularity. The event has been described not only by scientific journals (including "La Recherche" n. 159, 1984; "Science et Vie" n. 808, 1985 ; "Physics Bulletin" n.489, 1985, "Scientific American" n. 3, 1990 (translated into 9 languages), Europhysics News n. 5, 1996) but also by several newspapers in F. R. Germany, Hungary, Romania, etc.
There are more than 30 Popularization articles of this kind.
 

The Main Scientifical Achievements of our Group (see also the list of publications beginning with 1980)

• 1980 predictions. Paternity acknowledged by the scientific community.
• Analytical- (ASAF) and numerical (NuSAF) superasymmetric fission models.
• Unified approach of cold fission, cluster-decay and alpha-decay within ASAF.
• New method to estimate the preformation probability as a penetrabilty of the internal part of the barrier.
• The universal curve, log T = f(log Ps) - a single straight line for a given even-even cluster decay mode.
• New semiempirical formula for alpha-decay halflives.
• Extensive study of one-, two-, and three-dimensional penetrabilities and fission dynamics.
• Decay modes of the new doubly magic superheavy nucleus 304-120 (Gherghescu et al).
• Explanation of the fine structure in the 14-C-decay of 223-Ra based on the Landau-Zener effect (Mirea et al).
• Comprehensive tables of half-lives for cluster emission.
• 264-Fm should be the best cold-fissioning nucleus
• Systematics of experimental results updated in 2002 and suggestions toperform new measurements.
• Potential barrier obtained by using the macroscopic-microscopic method.
  

Figure 1: Prediction of 14-C radioactivity of 222- and 224-Ra, and Unified approach of alpha-decay, cluster radioactivities, and cold fission of 234-U.
 

Figure 2: Potential Energy Surfaces of 106-Te showing for the first time  the alpha valley with the detailed landscape around the saddle-point along the alpha valley.

Figure 3: Nuclear Chart of Cluster Emitters including very long half-lives (Tc) and small branching-ratios (b) relative to alpha-decay

Figure 4: Nuclear Chart of Cluster Emitters selcted to posses measurable half-lives and branching-ratios relative to alpha-decay

Figure 5: Experimentally Confirmed Cluster Emitters

Figure 6: Comparison of Experimentally Confirmed Half-lives with Predictions within Analytical Superasymmetric Fission Model (ASAF) The measured halflives, ranging from 10 to the power 11 to 10 to the power 26 sec, are  in good quantitative agreement with the predicted halflives and branching ratios.

Figure 7: Universal Curves compared with Geiger-Nuttal Plots

Figure 8: The Most Cited Publications

Figure 9: The Nuclear Chart of Experimentally Observed Alpha Emitters and of the 252-Cf fission fragments