Recent progress in the theory of two-proton radioactivity and three-body decay

Journal article, 2008

The current situation in the theory of three-body decay and experimental advances are briefly overviewed. The integral formula for decay widths of three-body states is introduced. Theoretical approach with a simplified Hamiltonian allows a semianalytical treatment of the process. The problem of the width of the first excited 3/2- state of 17Ne is resolved. The qualitative consequences of the model for simplified approaches are discussed. These include a better understanding of the diproton decay approximation and an introduction of a corrected "R-matrix" formula for three-body width. © 2008 IOP Publishing Ltd.