Exploration beyond the proton drip-line

This paper reviews the recent developments in the study of nuclei lying beyond the proton drip-line. Particular emphasis is made of the phenomenon of proton radioactivity for which a large and wide ranging data base now exists. Theoretical models of proton emission from spherical nuclei can predict the detailed trends of proton decay spectroscopic factors very well. The first examples of proton decay from highly deformed nuclei have been discovered and are well reproduced by a theoretical approach based on Nilsson states. Such measurements provide an insight into the fragmentation of single particle strength in deformed nuclei. The technique of Recoil Decay Tagging and its particular application to the study of the structure of deformed proton radioactive nuclei is discussed.