The absolute lifetimes of the four decay modes of ${}_{}{}^{234}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{U}$, namely α, Ne, and Mg decay, and spontaneous fission, are calculated within the superfluid tunneling model. It is found that a number of particles, of the order of twice the reduced mass of the two residual nuclei are moved around in the different processes. These particles belong to the condensed phase of the system and display, in their coherent motion, an inertia that is controlled by the pairing gap of the system, as well as by the number of nucleons participating. The model gives an overall account of the data, reproducing the observed lifetimes within two to three orders of magnitude.

• Received 25 January 1989

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.39.2101