Abrupt changes in alpha decay systematics as a manifestation of collective nuclear modes

An abrupt change in $\alpha$ decay systematics around the N=126 neutron shell closure is discussed. It is explained as a sudden hindrance of the clustering of the nucleons that eventually form the $\alpha$ particle. This is because the clustering induced by the pairing mode acting upon the four nucleons is inhibited if the configuration space does not allow a proper manifestation of the pairing collectivity.