α-particle preformation of heavy nuclei using proximity potential

The half lives for α decay have been calculated using four different versions of the proximity potential for the even even isotopes of all known α-emitters. Using the experimental half lives, the preformation probability (P0) of α particle before emission is calculated. Also the assault frequency (ν0) is calculated through a modified formula. Half-lives obtained from the potential Prox 76 are minimum, and these values are used for calculating the preformation probability (P0). Use of the potential Prox 76 in calculating P0 is justified as it can best reproduce experimental Coulomb barriers among the four potentials. The trend of the values of P0 versus the neutron number, N, and the proton number, Z, are in agreement with the shell model. The values of P0 are also fitted using a four-parameter formula.