On sequential procedures for the point estimation of the mean of a normal population

The sequential procedures developed by Starr (1966, Ann. Math. Statist., 37, 1173–1185) for estimating the mean of a normal population are further analyzed. Asymptotic properties of the regret and first two moments of the stopping rules are studied and second-order approximations are derived.     

Low-lying levels in103Rh from Coulomb excitation

Five low-lying negative parity states of¹⁰³Rh up to 1277 keV excitation energy were observed to be Coulomb excited with 2·5–4·5 MeV protons. The de-excitation gamma rays from these levels were identified in the singles spectra recorded with a 57 cc Ge(Li) detector. The level energies, branching ratios, reduced transition probabilitiesB(E2) and the multipole mixing ratios () were obtained. The 880, 1106 and 1277 keV levels have been Coulomb excited with protons for the first time. The ambiguity in theJ values for 803 and 1106 keV levels have been resolved using ²-fits, the assigned spin values are 1/2^– and 5/2^–, respectively. The-values for 474·1 and 811·2 keV transitions were obtained for the first time. The results have been discussed in the light of previously reported results.The authors wish to thank Professor I. M. Govil for his active interest at various stages of this work. One of us (DCT) acknowledges the financial support from U.G.C., New Delhi, under Faculty Improvement Programme.