Decay Characteristics of Neutron Excess Magnesium Nuclei

     In neutron star mergers, neutron excess nuclei and the r-process are important factors governing the production of heavier nuclear systems. A single-particle model evaluation of magnesium nuclei suggests that the heaviest Z = 12 nucleus will have mass 52 with filling of the 1f5/2 neutron shell. A = 38 – 52 magnesium isotopes have limited experimental half-life data, but the model predicts beta decay half-lives in the range of 0.744 – 2.89 ms. Based on previous calculations for Z = 9 -11, 20, 26, and 30 systems and comparisons to the 38Mg – 40Mg calculations summarized in the Japanese Nuclear Data Compilation, the single-particle model results likely overestimate the half-lives of A = 38 – 52 neutron excess magnesium nuclei.