A microscopic description of alpha decay of odd mass nuclei is given for axially deformed nuclei. Realistic mean field+pairing residual interaction in a very large single particle basis is used. Systematics for At and Rn isotopes, as well as for ${}_{}{}^{221}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Fr}$, are given. A pronounced anisotropic emission of alpha particles at low temperatures is predicted as a function of deformation for the At and Rn isotopes. This shows that alpha decay is an excellent tool to probe intrinsic deformations in nuclei.

• Received 28 October 1993

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.49.3024