6533b823fe1ef96bd127e9c3

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Direct observation of theBa114→Xe110→Te106→Sn102tripleα-decay chain using position and time correlations

subject

description

The triple $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-decay chain $^{114}\mathrm{Ba}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}^{110}\mathrm{Xe}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}^{106}\mathrm{Te}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}^{102}\mathrm{Sn}$ has been directly observed for the first time, following the $^{58}\mathrm{Ni}(^{58}\mathrm{Ni},2n)$ reaction. Implantation of $^{114}\mathrm{Ba}$ nuclei into a double-sided silicon-strip detector has allowed their $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ decays to be correlated in position and time with the $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ decays of the daughter $(^{110}\mathrm{Xe})$ and granddaughter $(^{106}\mathrm{Te})$ nuclei. In total, 17 events have been assigned to the $^{114}\mathrm{Ba}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}^{110}\mathrm{Xe}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}^{106}\mathrm{Te}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}^{102}\mathrm{Sn}$ triple $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-decay chain. The energy of the $^{114}\mathrm{Ba} \ensuremath{\alpha}$ decay has been measured to be ${E}_{\ensuremath{\alpha}}=3480$(20) keV, which is 70 keV higher than the previously measured value, and the half-life of $^{114}\mathrm{Ba}$ has been measured with improved accuracy, to be ${380}_{\ensuremath{-}110}^{+190}$ ms. A revised ${Q}_{^{12}\mathrm{C}}$ value of 19 035(45) keV for $^{114}\mathrm{Ba}$ is presented.