6533b7d6fe1ef96bd1265aac
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Smallest KnownQValue of Any Nuclear Decay: The Rareβ−Decay ofIn115(9/2+)→Sn115(3/2+)
V.-v. ElomaaTommi EronenM. MisiaszekAri JokinenChristine WeberJuha ÄYstöM. T. MustonenMikael HultJouni SuhonenJ. S. E. WieslanderJ. S. E. WieslanderGerd MarissensSaidur Rahamansubject
PhysicsQ valueExcited stateIsotopes of tinGeneral Physics and AstronomyGamma spectroscopyBeta (velocity)Atomic physicsBeta decayEnergy (signal processing)Radioactive decaydescription
The ground-state-to-ground-state Q_{beta;{-}} value of ;{115}In was determined to 497.68(17) keV using a high-precision Penning trap facility at the University of Jyvaskyla, Finland. From this, a Q_{beta;{-}} value of 0.35(17) keV was obtained for the rare beta;{-} decay to the first excited state of ;{115}Sn at 497.334(22) keV. The partial half-life was determined to 4.1(6) x 10;{20} yr using ultra low-background gamma-ray spectrometry in an underground laboratory. Theoretical modeling of this 2nd-forbidden unique beta;{-} transition was also undertaken and resulted in Q_{beta;{-}} = 57_{-12};{+19} eV using the measured half-life. The discrepancy between theory and experiment could be attributed to atomic effects enhanced by the low Q value. The present study implies that this transition has the lowest Q value of any known nuclear beta decay.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-09-16 | Physical Review Letters |