Simultaneous αβ Decay: A New Mode of Nuclear Instability

Abstract

We propose simultaneous αβ decay as a novel mode of nuclear instability that involves the strong and weak interactions in a single quantum transition. We develop a theoretical framework to predict its branching ratios and α-energy spectra, establishing exclusive and inclusive criteria based on whether the individual α and β channels are closed or open. A global survey of the nuclear chart identifies five exclusive αβ^- candidates, all predicted to be experimentally inaccessible, and ranks the leading inclusive candidates for both the αβ^- and αβ⁺ modes. Remarkably, six of the top αβ⁺ candidates coincide with known β-delayed-α precursors. The observed α spectra are naturally accounted for by simultaneous αβ⁺ emission without additional assumptions, indicating a substantial and possibly dominant direct component. Our findings establish simultaneous αβ decay as a distinct radioactive process and a sensitive probe of the interplay between the strong and weak interactions.

Simultaneous measurement of the Higgs boson decay rates to WW and ZZ in fully hadronic final states at FCC-ee
Jan Eysermans, Mila Pandurovic, Christoph Paus +2
arXiv3 Oct 2026PreprintCC BY 4.0Full textHigh-energy & particle physicsarXiv
Additional ionization during nuclear β^± decay in atomic systems
Alexei M. Frolov
arXiv9 Oct 2026PreprintarXiv licenceFull textAtomic, molecular & optical physicsarXiv
Color screening versus thermal decay as the mechanism of Υ suppression in high energy nuclear collisions
Yida Yang, Baoyi Chen, Jiaxing Zhao +1
arXiv28 Aug 2026PreprintCC0Full textHigh-energy & particle physics Nuclear physicsarXiv
Singular observation of shape and spin hindrance in metastable nuclear decay of ¹⁹⁷Au
S. K. Tandel, D. Rathore, M. Hemalatha +8
arXiv19 Oct 2026PreprintCC BY 4.0Full textNuclear physicsarXiv
Charge exchange reactions with central and tensor interactions and nuclear matrix elements associated with double-beta-decay neutrinos and astro neutrinos
Hiroyasu Ejiri, Yoritaka Iwata
arXiv6 Oct 2026PreprintCC BY 4.0Full textNuclear physicsarXiv

Cite

BibTeX RIS

BibTeX

@misc{zhang2026simultaneous,
  title = {{Simultaneous $αβ$ Decay: A New Mode of Nuclear Instability}},
  author = {Wenqiang Zhang and Chong Qi},
  howpublished = {arXiv},
  year = {2026},
  month = nov,
  doi = {10.48550/arxiv.2606.10567},
  eprint = {2606.10567},
  archivePrefix = {arXiv},
  url = {https://arxiv.org/abs/2606.10567},
}

RIS

TY  - UNPB
TI  - Simultaneous αβ Decay: A New Mode of Nuclear Instability
AU  - Wenqiang Zhang
AU  - Chong Qi
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/11/01
PB  - arXiv
DO  - 10.48550/arxiv.2606.10567
UR  - https://arxiv.org/abs/2606.10567
AB  - We propose simultaneous αβ decay as a novel mode of nuclear instability that involves the strong and weak interactions in a single quantum transition. We develop a theoretical framework to predict its branching ratios and α-energy spectra, establishing exclusive and inclusive criteria based on whether the individual α and β channels are closed or open. A global survey of the nuclear chart identifies five exclusive αβ^- candidates, all predicted to be experimentally inaccessible, and ranks the leading inclusive candidates for both the αβ^- and αβ^+ modes. Remarkably, six of the top αβ^+ candidates coincide with known β-delayed-α precursors. The observed α spectra are naturally accounted for by simultaneous αβ^+ emission without additional assumptions, indicating a substantial and possibly dominant direct component. Our findings establish simultaneous αβ decay as a distinct radioactive process and a sensitive probe of the interplay between the strong and weak interactions.
ER  -

Abstract

Related

Cite