Complex-energy shell model description of alpha decay

The alpha decay width has been successfully described in the framework of a combined shell and cluster model. It has been found that the shell model does not provide enough alpha clustering. The cluster model cures this deficiency by including the alpha cluster in the model from the very beginning. In the complex-energy shell model attempt is made to produce the clustering needed by a large model space which involves particles in the continuum. An advantage of such a formulation is that the tail of the formation amplitude may be consistent with the decaying boundary condition. The formulation can be applied to systems, like 104Te, decaying to the continuum.