One-proton emission of ${}^{102}$Sb and its sensitivity to proton-neutron interaction

Abstract

One-proton emission from the ${}^{102}$Sb nucleus is discussed, assuming an inert ${}^{100}$Sn core and the valence proton and neutron. There are experimentally measured bound states in the ${}^{100}$Sn-neutron system, whereas no particle-bound ${}^{100}$Sn-proton state has been observed. With time-dependent three-body calculations, the $1^{+}$ ground state of ${}^{102}$Sb is suggested as a possible proton emitter. This conclusion is reached by assuming a weakening effect on the proton-neutron ($pn$) interaction with respect to a bare deuteron. An analogous phenomenon is necessary to reproduce the empirical binding energies of ${}^{42}$Sc and ${}^{18}$F. Continuous shift from the unbound to bound regions by changing the $pn$-interaction strength is demonstrated. The lower limit of lifetime is evaluated as $\tau \gtrsim 4.4\times 10^{-18}$ seconds in the no-$pn$-interaction limit. However, the actual lifetime is expected as longer with a finite $pn$ interaction. Observation of a resonant state in ${}^{102}$Sb and its decay would provide a benchmark of the $pn$-pairing correlation.

Comments: 6 pages, 6 figures, 4 tables. Title is changed: the previous title was "Is ${}^{102}$Sb particle-bound or a proton emitter?''. Accepted in Phys. Rev. C