The electron capture decay of 85gsr

In order to resolve the controversy concerning the existence of an 868 keV γ-transition in the decay of 65d ^85sSr and to determine the electron capture decay energy, radiochemically separated sources, Ge(Li), Ge(Li)-NaI(Tl), and NaI(Tl)-NaI(Tl) spectrometers have been used for singles and (X-ray-γ and γ-γ coincidence measurements. A γ-ray at 868.5±0.5 keV decaying with a 65±5 d half-life was conclusively identified in ^85gSr decay. From measurements of the ratio $\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{\kappa (868.5)}}\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{\kappa (514)}}$ of K-capture probabilities by (KX-ray-γ coincidences, a value of Q_EC was determined for the EC decay feeding the 868.5 keV transition. Thus, a level in ⁸⁵Rb is established at 868.5 keV, and an upper limit of 0.45 μsec is set on its lifetime.