ZweiprotonenEmissionen

Zweiprotonenemissionen, also known as diproton emission, is a rare nuclear decay process where an atomic nucleus simultaneously ejects two protons. This phenomenon is distinct from sequential proton emission, where two protons are emitted one after the other. Zweiprotonenemission is a direct consequence of the strong nuclear force and the Coulomb repulsion between protons.

The occurrence of zweiprotonenemission is favored in nuclei that are very proton-rich and are located near the drip line, the point at which a nucleus can no longer hold onto its nucleons. In such nuclei, the binding energy holding protons is significantly reduced, making them more susceptible to emission. The Coulomb repulsion between the two protons also plays a crucial role, as it can overcome the nuclear attraction, leading to their simultaneous escape.

This decay mode is experimentally challenging to observe due to its low branching ratio compared to other decay modes like beta decay or alpha decay. However, it has been observed in a few proton-rich isotopes, particularly in the region of light nuclei. The study of zweiprotonenemission provides valuable insights into the nuclear structure of exotic nuclei and the interplay between the nuclear and Coulomb forces. Understanding these processes helps refine nuclear models and predict the properties of nuclei far from stability.