β + ratio andβ-delayedγ-decay of146Eu

The positron decay of¹⁴⁶Eu was investigated, firstly to derive for the allowed transition to the 2046 keV state in¹⁴⁶Sm the electron capture to positron decay ratio. The experimental valueEC/β ⁺=43.7(42) is found to be in agreement within the respective error intervals with the ones calculated from the formalism of allowed decay using the recentQ-values of¹⁴⁶Eu. Further on, theγ-decay properties of¹⁴⁶Eu have been reinvestigated with emphasis on implied modifications of the hitherto accepted decay scheme: 42 new levels and 33 newγ-transitions were placed in the revised level scheme, 12 of the previously reported levels were deleted. The level distribution of¹⁴⁶Sm is discussed within a statistical model. The indication for a non-statisticalβ-strength function is observed.