Eur. Phys. J. A (2005) 24: 51-56
https://doi.org/10.1140/epja/i2004-10122-9

A search for spontaneous emission of heavy clusters in the ¹²⁷I nuclide

¹ Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Roma “Tor Vergata” and INFN, Sezione di Roma2, I-00133, Roma, Italy
² Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Roma “La Sapienza” and INFN, Sezione di Roma, I-00185, Roma, Italy
³ INFN - Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso, I-67010, Assergi (AQ), Italy
⁴ IHEP, Chinese Academy, P.O. Box 918/3, 100049, Beijing, PRC
⁵ Institute for Nuclear Research, MSP, 03680, Kiev, Ukraine

^* e-mail: rita.bernabei@roma2.infn.it

Received: 26 October 2004
Accepted: 5 January 2005
Published online: 27 January 2005

Abstract

The results of an experimental search for spontaneous cluster decay in ¹²⁷I are presented. Several possible channels have been investigated considering an exposure of 33834 kg ^. day collected by a large-mass highly radiopure NaI(Tl) set-up deep underground in the Gran Sasso National Laboratory of the INFN. New lower limits on the lifetime of ²⁴ ₁₀Ne, ²⁸ ₁₂Mg, ³⁰ ₁₂Mg, ³² ₁₄Si, ³⁴ ₁₄Si, ⁴⁸ ₂₀Ca, ⁴⁹ ₂₁Sc cluster radioactivity in ¹²⁷I have been achieved.