0000000000043600
AUTHOR
Mikko Haaranen
Shell-model study of the 4th- and 6th-forbidden β -decay branches of 48-Ca
The highly forbidden β− decay of 48Ca is reexamined by performing shell-model calculations with the GXPF1A effective interaction. We examine the three available decay branches to the lowest 6+, 5+, and 4+ states of 48Sc, and extract a theoretical half-life of T β 1/2 = 5.2+1.7 −1.3 × 1020 g−2 A yr for the β− decay, where gA is the value of the axial-vector coupling constant. The current half-life estimate suggests stronger competition between the single-β-decay and double-β-decay branches of 48Ca than previously expected on theoretical grounds. peerReviewed
Microscopic quasiparticle-phonon model in the study of the beta decay of Cd-115
This master’s thesis concerns the use of the microscopic quasiparticle-phonon model in the study of the beta minus decay of Cd-115. The first part of this text concentrates on the theoretical description of nearly spherical open-shell odd-A nuclei by using the microscopic quasiparticle-phonon model. The treatment of the subject is far from exhaustive but all the necessary relations needed in the practical application of the formalism are provided in the text. The second part provides the theory that is needed for the study of beta minus decay. In addition to the general theory of forbidden beta minus decay, also the greatly simplified case of allowed transitions are discussed. Again rather …
Single and Double Beta-DecayQValues among the TripletZr96,Nb96, andMo96
The atomic mass relations among the mass triplet ^{96}Zr, ^{96}Nb, and ^{96}Mo have been determined by means of high-precision mass measurements using the JYFLTRAP mass spectrometer at the IGISOL facility of the University of Jyvaskyla. We report Q values for the ^{96}Zr single and double β decays to ^{96}Nb and ^{96}Mo, as well as the Q value for the ^{96}Nb single β decay to ^{96}Mo, which are Q_{β}(^{96}Zr)=163.96(13), Q_{ββ}(^{96}Zr)=3356.097(86), and Q_{β}(^{96}Nb)=3192.05(16) keV. Of special importance is the ^{96}Zr single β-decay Q value, which has never been determined directly. The single β decay, whose main branch is fourfold unique forbidden, is an alternative decay path to the…
Rare beta decays and the spectrum-shape method
This is a thesis consisting of seven publications and an introductory part on theoretical studies on rare single beta decays. Firstly, the theoretical framework is applied to the computation of partial half-lives for few selected cases of rare single beta-decay transitions. This includes the study on a possible ultra-low-Q-value decay branch of 115Cd as well as the highly forbidden beta decays of 48Ca and 50V. The double magic 48Ca is one of the few experimentally verified nuclei that decay via the two-neutrino mode of double beta decay. A theoretical study on the single beta-decay branches was used to inspect the competition between the single and double beta-decay channels. In the case of…
Electron spectra in forbidden β decays and the quenching of the weak axial-vector coupling constant gA
Evolution of the electron spectra with the effective value of the weak axial-vector coupling constant ${g}_{\mathrm{A}}$ was followed for 26 first-, second-, third-, fourth- and fifth-forbidden ${\ensuremath{\beta}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ decays of odd-$A$ nuclei by calculating the involved nuclear matrix elements (NMEs) in the framework of the microscopic quasiparticle-phonon model (MQPM). The next-to-leading-order terms were included in the $\ensuremath{\beta}$-decay shape factor of the electron spectra. The spectrum shapes of third- and fourth-forbidden nonunique decays were found to depend strongly on the value of ${g}_{\mathrm{A}}$, while first- and second-forbidden decays were mostly unaff…
β-decay half-life of V 50 calculated by the shell model
In this work we survey the detectability of the β− channel of 50 23V leading to the first excited 2+ state in 50 24Cr. The electron-capture (EC) half-life corresponding to the transition of 50 23V to the first excited 2+ state in 50 22Ti had been measured earlier. Both of the mentioned transitions are 4th-forbidden non-unique. We have performed calculations of all the involved wave functions by using the nuclear shell model with the GXPF1A interaction in the full f-p shell. The computed half-life of the EC branch is in good agreement with the measured one. The predicted half-life for the β− branch is in the range ≈2 × 1019 yr whereas the present experimental lower limit is 1.5 × 1018 yr. We…
Electron spectra in forbidden β decays and the quenching of the weak axial-vector coupling constant gA
Evolution of the electron spectra with the effective value of the weak axial-vector coupling constant gA was followed for 26 first-, second-, third-, fourth- and fifth-forbidden β− decays of odd-A nuclei by calculating the involved nuclear matrix elements (NMEs) in the framework of the microscopic quasiparticle-phonon model (MQPM). The next-to-leading-order terms were included in the β-decay shape factor of the electron spectra. The spectrum shapes of third- and fourth-forbidden nonunique decays were found to depend strongly on the value of gA, while first- and second-forbidden decays were mostly unaffected by the tuning of gA. The gA-driven evolution of the normalized β spectra was found t…
Forbidden nonunique β decays and effective values of weak coupling constants
Forbidden nonunique β decays feature shape functions that are complicated combinations of different nuclear matrix elements and phase-space factors. Furthermore, they depend in a very nontrivial way on the values of the weak coupling constants, gV for the vector part and gA for the axial-vector part. In this work we include also the usually omitted second-order terms in the shape functions to see their effect on the computed decay half-lives and electron spectra (β spectra). As examples we study the fourth-forbidden nonunique ground-state-to-ground-state β− decay branches of 113Cd and 115In using the microscopic quasiparticle-phonon model and the nuclear shell model. A striking new feature …
Forbidden nonuniqueβdecays and effective values of weak coupling constants
Forbidden nonunique $\ensuremath{\beta}$ decays feature shape functions that are complicated combinations of different nuclear matrix elements and phase-space factors. Furthermore, they depend in a very nontrivial way on the values of the weak coupling constants, ${g}_{\mathrm{V}}$ for the vector part and ${g}_{\mathrm{A}}$ for the axial-vector part. In this work we include also the usually omitted second-order terms in the shape functions to see their effect on the computed decay half-lives and electron spectra ($\ensuremath{\beta}$ spectra). As examples we study the fourth-forbidden nonunique ground-state-to-ground-state ${\ensuremath{\beta}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ decay branches of $^{113}\ma…
Spectrum-shape method and the next-to-leading-order terms of the β-decay shape factor
Effective values of the axial-vector coupling constant gA have lately attracted much attention due to the prominent role of gA in determining the half-lives of double β decays, in particular their neutrinoless mode. The half-life method, i.e., comparing the calculated half-lives to the corresponding experimental ones, is the most widely used method to access the effective values of gA. The present paper investigates the possibilities offered by a complementary method: the spectrum-shape method (SSM). In the SSM, comparison of the shapes of the calculated and measured β electron spectra of forbidden nonunique β decays yields information on the magnitude of gA. In parallel, we investigate the…
β-decay half-life ofV50calculated by the shell model
In this work we survey the detectability of the ${\ensuremath{\beta}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ channel of ${}_{23}^{50}\mathrm{V}$ leading to the first excited ${2}^{+}$ state in ${}_{24}^{50}\mathrm{Cr}$. The electron-capture (EC) half-life corresponding to the transition of ${}_{23}^{50}V$ to the first excited ${2}^{+}$ state in ${}_{22}^{50}\mathrm{Ti}$ had been measured earlier. Both of the mentioned transitions are 4th-forbidden non-unique. We have performed calculations of all the involved wave functions by using the nuclear shell model with the GXPF1A interaction in the full f-p shell. The computed half-life of the EC branch is in good agreement with the measured one. The predicted half-lif…
Spectrum-shape method and the next-to-leading-order terms of the β-decay shape factor
Effective values of the axial-vector coupling constant ${g}_{\mathrm{A}}$ have lately attracted much attention due to the prominent role of ${g}_{\mathrm{A}}$ in determining the half-lives of double $\ensuremath{\beta}$ decays, in particular their neutrinoless mode. The half-life method, i.e., comparing the calculated half-lives to the corresponding experimental ones, is the most widely used method to access the effective values of ${g}_{\mathrm{A}}$. The present paper investigates the possibilities offered by a complementary method: the spectrum-shape method (SSM). In the SSM, comparison of the shapes of the calculated and measured $\ensuremath{\beta}$ electron spectra of forbidden nonuniq…