The Electrostatic Interaction and Low Energy Particles in Alpha-Radioactivity

In $\alpha$-decay, after the particle has been emitted, the asymmetrical electric field of the residual nucleus can cause the $\alpha$-particle to alter its total energy in conjunction with a change in the state of the nucleus. Since the ability of a particle to penetrate the potential barrier increases rapidly with its energy, the number of particles of each possible energy finally escaping will not be in accord with the decay constants predicted by the Geiger-Nuttall law.