Beta-delayed fission of 186, 188Bi isotopes

By using the technique of correlating implanted evaporation residues and their subsequent fission decay, β-delayed fission (βDF) of 186Bi has been identified for the first time and βDF of 188Bi has been unambiguously confirmed. The experiments were performed at the velocity filter SHIP (GSI, Darmstadt). The βDF probabilities for both nuclides were qualitatively estimated, and, in particular indications for a large value in the case of 186Bi are regarded. peerReviewed