Search for rare decay modes of Californium

Abstract

The results ofmeasurements on the search for the cluster decay of ²⁵²Cfnucleus with the emission ofthe bound state of eight neutrons are presented. The value of an upper limit ofthe partial probabilities for this process is obtained, which contradicts to the results ofthe recently published work, in which the possible existence of octaneutron was declared. Based on the results of our measurements, the estimations for the upper limits ofpartial probabilities for the emission of ²⁰C, ²⁴O, ²⁸Ne, 32Mg, ³⁶Si, ⁴⁰S, ⁴⁰P, and ⁴⁰Si clusters are given. The estimation for the upper limit of the partial probability of ²⁵⁰Cf decay with the emission of the bound state of six neutrons is also obtained.