Electron capture intensities in the decay of133Ba

The ground state decay of¹³³Ba was investigated using NaI(Tl) scintillation crystals.P _L/P_K electron capture ratios were measured for the transitions to the 437 keV and to the 384 keV level of¹³³Cs. The results are: (P _L/P_K)₄₃₇=0.371±0.007 and (PP _L/P_K)₃₈₄=0.221±0.005. From these data a mass difference between the ground states of the¹³³Ba- and the¹³³Cs-atom of (515±3) keV was derived. Besides, these capture ratios yield an exchange correction of 1.03±0.03. Furthermore, the intensity of the transition to the 161 keV level was determined to be smaller than 0.5% of all decays.     

Radioactive decay of Os191 and Os191m

Beta and gamma spectra of Os¹⁹¹ were studied using a magnetic double-focusing beta-spectrometer and a scintillation spectrometer. The isomeric state Os^191m decays through the 74·4 ± 0·1 keV (E3/M4=50) transition with a half-lifeT _1/2=13·0 ± 0·5 hours. A continuous beta spectrum withE _max=147 ± 3 keV and the gamma transitions 41·83 ± 0·05 keV (E3), 82·5 ± 0·3 keV and 129·4 ± 0·1 keV (70%M1 + 30%E2) were observed in the decay of the ground state of Os¹⁹¹. The conversion coefficient of the last transition was determined as 1·94 ±± — 0·10. Gamma transitions with energies of 47 keV and 185·8 keV were not observed.     

The decay of 91 min As

The energies and relative intensities of γ-rays following the β-decay of ⁷⁸As (and ⁷⁶As) to levels in ⁷⁸Se (and ⁷⁶Se) have been measured using an 8 cm³ Ge(Li) spectrometer. The β-decay of ⁷⁸As has been measured using a superconducting magnet beta-ray spectrometer with two 3 mm thick Si(Li) detectors. These data plus β-γ and γ-γ coincidence results have been used to construct a level scheme with 18 excited levels in ⁷⁸Se. The half-life of ⁷⁸As was measured to be 90.7±0.2 min.     

The decay of 31 sec98Zr, 2.9 sec98Nb and 51 min98Nb

TheΒ- andγ-radiations of⁹⁸Zr and^{98m, g} Nb have been investigated employing scintillation and semiconductor spectrometers and coincidence techniques. Sources of⁹⁸Nb were produced by the⁹⁸Mo(n, p)⁹⁸Nb reaction, sources of⁹⁸Zr by fission of²³⁵U with thermal neutrons applying chemical separations. For⁹⁸Zr, a half-life of 30.7±0.4 sec and aQ _β-value of 2.3±0.2 MeV were obtained, for the⁹⁸Nb isomers, half-lives of 2.86±0.06 sec and 51.3±0.4 min, andQ _β-values of 4.8±0.2 MeV and 4.5±0.2 MeV, respectively. Noγ-rays were observed in the decay of⁹⁸Zr. The decay of 2.9 sec⁹⁸Nb was found to involve 11γ-ray transitions. In the decay of 51 min⁹⁸Nb, 54γ-transitions were detected. Spin and parity of 1⁺ and 4^? were deduced for the isomeric states of⁹⁸Nb.     

The decay of 20 min179Re

The decay of 20 min¹⁷⁹Re has been studied by means of Ge(Li) and Si(Li) detectors and a magneticβ-ray spectrometer. From the measured positon endpoint aQ-value of 2690±50 keV has been deduced. The decay scheme given is supported by coincidence relations. Fast beta transitions (logft≈5.1) to levels at 720keV and 1680 keV in¹⁷⁹W can be explained by a three quasi-particle character for these states. Nilsson assignments to these and other levels are discussed.     

The decay of 8.7 min237Pa

The beta and gamma radiations of²³⁷Pa have been investigated employing semiconductor and scintillation spectrometers and coincidence techniques. Sources of²³⁷Pa were obtained after bombardments of²³⁸U with bremsstrahlung and 14-MeV neutrons and subsequent chemical separation. From the total of 18γ-rays following the decay of 8.7±0.2 min²³⁷Pa 17 transitions, representing 99.9% of theγ-ray intensity, could be placed in a level scheme of²³⁷U. AQ _β- value of 2.25±0.1 MeV has been determined.     

The decay of 1.4 min173Er

A 1.4 ± 0.1 min activity which is assigned to β^?-decay of ₆₈ ¹⁷³ Er has been produced with 14–15 MeV neutrons through the reaction¹⁷⁶Yb(n, α)¹⁷³Er. Its decay has been studied with Ge(Li) detectors and several (γ)(γ) as well as (γ)(β) coincidence arrangements. Eight gamma rays with energies 94.2, 116.14, 118.6, 122.40, 192.8, 199.2, 800.8 and 895.2 keV were assigned to the decay of¹⁷³Er. The proposed level scheme of the daughter nuclide ₆₉ ¹⁷³ Tm contains levels at 0, 2.5, 118.6, 124.9, 317.7, 411.9 and 1212.8 keV. The 317.7 keV level is an isomeric state with a measured half-life of 10±3 μs. This 10 μs isomer and the 411.9 keV level are thought to be the band head and 9/2^? rotational member of 7/2^? [523] Nilsson state, respectively. The levels at 0, 2.5, 118.6 and 124.9 keV are interpreted as 1/2⁺, 3/2⁺, 5/2⁺ and 7/2⁺ members of the 1/2⁺ [411] band and the level at 1212.8 keV as the 9/2^? [514] Nilsson state. Some systematic considerations and theoretical transition probability calculations are also included.     

The decay of the 23min131Sb

The direct and the coincidence spectra of gamma-rays from the¹³¹Sb decay have been measured by means of different Ge(Li) detectors. The Sb sources have been prepared from mixture of²³⁵U thermal neutron fission products. The proposed level scheme of the¹³¹Te nuclei is based on the coincidence measurements, the analysis of the energy sums and the reaction data. The 49 of the total number of 64 gamma-rays observed have been placed in the present decay scheme. Properties of the some levels in¹³¹Te are compared with those observed in other oddmass Te isotopes. A probable structure of some of the excited states in¹³¹Te is discussed.     

Conversion electrons in the decay of191Os

Internal conversion electrons in the decay of¹⁹¹Os have been measured with a 30 cm double focusing spectrometer. The transition energies of (129.27±0·07) keV, 82.5 keV, (46.90±±0.06) keV and (41.76±0.02) keV are given together with the corresponding internal conversion line intensities. It was found that the mixture of the 129 keV transition was 87% M1+13% E2. The previously proposed decay scheme is supplemented by the 46.90 keV transition.The authors would like to thank to M. Vobecký and A. Matalka for preparing the electrodeposited sources.     

Electron capture decay of181W: L subshell fluorescence and Coster-Kronig yields in Ta

The TaL x-ray spectrum from the 140 d electron capture decay of¹⁸¹W was studied with high resolution semiconductor detectors and fast coincidence techniques. Measurement ofL x-ray-K x-ray andL x-ray—γ-ray coincidence rates yielded the followingL shell fluorescence and Coster-Kronig yields and radiative decay branching ratios: ω₂=0.250±0.013, ω₃=0.228±0.013 (corrected for angular correlation effects),f ₂₃=0.180±0.007,v ₁=O.218±0.016,s ₃=0.205+-0.010,s ₂=0.215+-0.010,f ₁₃+f ₁₂ f ₂₃=0.36+-0.02, and ω₁+f ₁₂ω₂=0.14±0.02, from which upper limits were obtained off ₁₃<0.36 and ω₁<0.14.     

Measurement ofK-electron capture probability (P k ) in the decay of197Hg (64.1 h)

TheK-electron capture probability (P _K ) for the 268.7 and 77.3 keV states of¹⁹⁷Au in the decay of¹⁹⁷Hg (64.1h) have been determined from theKX-ray gamma ray summing in a HPGe X-ray detector. The measured values,P _k (268.7)=0.746±0.033 andP _k (77.3)=0.774±0.036 are found to be in good agreement with the theoretical results.     

Neutrinoless double-beta decay and double-electron capture

The fundamental importance of searching for neutrinoless double-beta decay is widely recognized. Observation of the decay would tell us that the total lepton number is not conserved and that, consequently, neutrinos are massive Majorana fermions. The same statement could be made in the case of observing neutrinoless double-electron capture. We address the question of the sensitivity of the 0νεε decay to the effective mass of the Majorana neutrino. According to our estimates, in the case of ¹⁵²Gd and ¹⁶⁴Er the sensitivity can be comparable to the favored 0νββ decays of nuclei. The main uncertainty in the prediction of half-lives of the 0νεε decay stems from the lack of sufficient precision in measuring the mass difference between the parent and daughter atoms. More accurate measurements can be accomplished using the modern high-precision ion traps.     

The decay of 1.2 min Ag and 5.3 h Ag

The decay schemes of 1.2 min and 5.3 h ¹¹³Ag have been studied using Ge(Li) and NaI(Tl) detectors and a 4096-channel multiparameter pulse-height analyser system. The decay of 5.3 h ¹¹³Ag was found to involve 15 γ-rays and to produce 10 excited states in ¹¹³Cd at energies of 264.7, 298.0, 315.6, 583.9, 604.6, 681.1, 883.6, 936.9, 989.0 and 1195.2 keV. The italicized energies refer to negative parity states, through which 1.3% of the decays go to yield the isomer at 264.7 keV. The 604.6 keV level is thought to be a case|9/2⁻ level similar for those found in several odd-mass Te and Xe isotopes. The 1.2 min ^113mAg decay was found to populate several of the same levels in Cd and two additional levels at 452 and 689 keV. The 1.2 min ¹¹³Ag is the upper isomer with high spin, probably .     

The decay of 23.0 min Rb to levels in Kr

The radioactive decay of ⁷⁹Rb(23.0±0.5 min) has been studied with the aid of semiconductor radiation detectors. Both singles and coincidence spectra have been recorded. The decay energy: 3520±45 keV was determined by measuring the endpoint of the positon spectrum in coincidence with prominent γ-rays. A decay scheme is proposed incorporating most of the measured γ-rays. The following energies in keV and parities of levels are assigned: ground state ( ), , , , , 383.71±0.18, 532.82±0.33, 688.21±0.09, , 934.0±1.4, 1089.4±0.4, 1474.7±0.3. The spin and parity of the ⁷⁹Rb ground state is most probably .     

The decay of 4 min 158Tm

The decay of 4 min ¹⁵⁸Tm has been investigated with on-line mass-separated samples obtained from the Orsay ISOCELE separator. Measurements of γ-rays, conversion electron lines and γ-γ bi-dimensional coincidences were performed. About 180 transitions were ascribed to the decay and two thirds of them were placed in a decay scheme. The β-band and the γ-band were identified with bandheads situated at 806.40 and 820.13 keV respectively. In addition, a number of other vibrational bands (β-γ, β-β, K^π = 0^? and 1^?) are proposed. The decay properties of those bands are discussed in the framework of current nuclear models. The log ft values suggest a 2^? assignment for ¹⁵⁸Tm with the possible configuration (p404J↓-n521↑).     

Alpha decay of the new isotope 174Hg

Neutron deficient mercury isotopes were produced in the reaction ³⁶Ar + ¹⁴⁴Sm using bombarding energies of 180–230 MeV. Fusion products were separated in-flight from the primary beam using a gas-filled recoil separator. An alpha line with the alpha particle energy and half-life of (7069±11) keV and (2.1 _?0.7 ^+1.8 ) ms, respectively, was assigned to the new mercury isotope ¹⁷⁴Hg.     

After-effects in the decay of As and Hg

After-effects following internal conversion processes in the decay of ⁷⁵Se and ^197mHg are investigated. Time differential electron-γ and time integral electron-γ, γ-electron and γ-γ directional correlation measurements are performed, and a magnetic decoupling technique is used. For certain insulating source backing materials after-effects are found. Relaxation time constants for the time-dependent perturbation and recombination time constants for the ionized atoms, as well as the strength of the time-dependent internal magnetic fields are deduced.     

Investigation of dual decay of70Ga (21 min)

The weakβ ^?-branchings in⁷⁰Ga decay leading to excited states in⁷⁰Ge at 1039 keV, and 1215 keV were measured byβ ^?-ray and γ-ray detection in 4π geometry to be 0.36 ±0.02%, and 0.32±0.01%, respectively. The weak electron capture decay of⁷⁰Ga was confirmed and its intensity measured to be 0.41±0.05%. The energy of the γ-rays was remeasured to be 176.17±0.02 keV, and 1039.20±0.08 keV.