Beta-delayed proton emission from heavy nuclei: (I). The observation of coincidences between protons and γ-rays

Coincidences have been detected between γ-rays and β-delayed protons emitted after the decay of very neutron-deficient nuclei. In the three cases studied the decay proceeds to the ground state with branches to the first excited (2⁺) state of the even daughter nucleus of (58±7) % (¹¹⁵Xe to 709 keV in ¹¹⁴Te), (14±3) % (¹¹⁷Xe to 679 keV in ¹¹⁶Te), and (50±10) % (¹⁸¹Hg to 158 keV in ¹⁸⁰Pt). Upper limits of 2 and 6 % can be placed on the branches to the 4⁺ states of ¹¹⁴Te and ¹⁸⁰Pt. For the cases of ^115,117Xe, coincidences with annihilation radiation were also observed; the measured positon/proton ratio determines the difference Q—B_p, between the energy available for electron capture and the proton separation energy for the daughter. For ¹¹⁵Xe the result is 6.20±0.13 MeV, for ¹¹⁷Xe 4.10±0.20 MeV.