Microscopic description of 2α-decay in 212Po and 224Ra isotopes

Half-lives calculations for α decay of 212Po and 224Ra are performed using microscopic self-consistent framework. Calculations are performed using the covariant energy density functional theory within Hartree-Bogoliubov approximation, where a separable pairing interaction of finite range is used. The potential energy surface is computed as a function of quadrupole, octupole and hexadecupole collective coordinates and the determination of the dynamical least-action path is performed using the cranking adiabatic time-dependent Hartree Bogoliubov approximation. The predicted half-lives for α decay of 212Po and 224Ra are in good agreement with experimental values. In addition, a new decay mode consisting of symmetric, back to back, 2α emission is predicted with half-lives of the order of those observed for cluster emission