Radial pattern of nuclear decay processes

At high level density of nuclear states, a separation of diffferent time scales is observed (trapping effect). We calculate the radial profile of partial widths in the framework of the continuum shell model for some 1^- resonances with 2p-2h nuclear structure in ¹⁶O as a function of the coupling strength to the continuum. A correlation between the lifetime of a nuclear state and the radial profile of the corresponding decay process is observed. We conclude from our numerical results that the trapping effect creates structures in space and time characterized by a small radial extension and a short lifetime.