silicon34

Silicon-34 (Si-34) is a radioactive isotope of silicon with 14 protons and 20 neutrons. It lies far from the line of stability and does not occur naturally on Earth; it has been produced in laboratory experiments through high-energy nuclear reactions such as projectile fragmentation of heavier nuclei or spallation targets, and in fusion-evaporation reactions.

This neutron-rich isotope is unstable and undergoes beta-minus decay, in which a neutron converts to a proton to form phosphorus-34 (P-34) and an electron and an antineutrino. The decay often proceeds through excited states of the daughter, emitting gamma rays.

Exact half-life values and decay energies have been measured in several experiments, but Si-34 is characterized by a short half-life (typically in the millisecond to second range) and a low production yield. Its ground-state spin and parity are not well established; as an even-even nucleus (Z=14, N=20), it is typically expected to have a 0+ ground state, though measurements are required for confirmation.

Studying Si-34 helps researchers understand nuclear structure in light, neutron-rich systems and tests theoretical models near the neutron drip line. While not used in practical applications, data on Si-34 contribute to astrophysical models of nucleosynthesis and the boundaries of nuclear binding.