Effects of atomic electrons on nuclear stability and radioactive decay

1. The only valid (necessary and sufficient) condition for -stability of a nucleus is the minimum value of the mass of the atom (not of the nucleus) on the isobar line (that is, atomic weight = const). This condition holds true for all known isotopes without exception. 2. The condition of nuclear stability and the decay schemes of unstable nuclei depend on the state of the electron shells. Atom ionization and other perturbations in electron shells (caused, for example, by magnetic fields) not only changes the decay periods of unstable nuclei [1, 2], but also alters decay schemes [3] and modifies the stability condition. For example, the Dy, Ir, Tl nuclei, which are stable in neutral atoms, become-active when atoms are completely ionized. This means that by affecting electron shells one can alter conditions of nuclear -stability and thus initiate nuclear transmutations by means of weak interactions. 3. We have developed a phenomenological model for the low energy nuclear transmutation. According to the above observations above, the probability of a nuclear reaction can significantly increase under the effects exerted on atomic electron shells. Without considering specific mechanisms of nuclear transformations, we have managed to determine the possible transformation products only using basic conservation laws (the energy and electric, baryon and lepton charges). Amazingly, such a simple model yields results in qualitative agreement with experimental data.