Smallest Known $Q$ Value of Any Nuclear Decay: The Rare ${\ensuremath{\beta}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ Decay of $^{115}\mathrm{In}(9/{2}^{+})\ensuremath{\rightarrow}^{115}\mathrm{Sn}(3/{2}^{+})$

Smallest Known $Q$ Value of Any Nuclear Decay: The Rare $β^{-}$ Decay of ${}^{115}{In} (9 / 2^{+}) \to {}^{115}{Sn} (3 / 2^{+})$

J. S. E. Wieslander, J. Suhonen, T. Eronen, M. Hult, V.-V. Elomaa, A. Jokinen, G. Marissens, M. Misiaszek, M. T. Mustonen, S. Rahaman, C. Weber, and J. Äystö

Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 122501 – Published 16 September 2009

Abstract

The ground-state-to-ground-state $Q_{β^{-}}$ value of ${}^{115}{In}$ was determined to 497.68(17) keV using a high-precision Penning trap facility at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland. From this, a $Q_{β^{-}}$ value of 0.35(17) keV was obtained for the rare $β^{-}$ decay to the first excited state of ${}^{115}{Sn}$ at 497.334(22) keV. The partial half-life was determined to $4.1 (6) \times 10^{20} yr$ using ultra low-background gamma-ray spectrometry in an underground laboratory. Theoretical modeling of this 2nd-forbidden unique $β^{-}$ transition was also undertaken and resulted in $Q_{β^{-}} = 57_{- 12}^{+ 19} eV$ using the measured half-life. The discrepancy between theory and experiment could be attributed to atomic effects enhanced by the low $Q$ value. The present study implies that this transition has the lowest $Q$ value of any known nuclear $β$ decay.

Received 18 March 2009

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.103.122501

Authors & Affiliations

J. S. E. Wieslander^1,2, J. Suhonen², T. Eronen², M. Hult^1,‡, V.-V. Elomaa², A. Jokinen², G. Marissens¹, M. Misiaszek³, M. T. Mustonen², S. Rahaman^2,*, C. Weber^2,†, and J. Äystö²

¹EC-JRC-IRMM, Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements, Retieseweg 111, B-2440 Geel, Belgium
²Department of Physics, P.O. Box 35 (YFL), FIN-40014 University of Jyväskylä, Finland
³Marian Smoluchowski Institute of Physics, Jagiellonian University, ul. Reymonta 4, 30-059 Krakow, Poland

^*Present address: Physics Division P-23, Mail Stop H803, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA
^†Present address: Fakultät für Physik, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 85748 Garching, Germany
^‡mikael.hult@ec.europa.eu

$Q$ Value of ${}^{115}{In} \to {}^{115}{Sn} (3 / 2^{+})$ : The Lowest Known Energy $β$ Decay

Brianna J. Mount, Matthew Redshaw, and Edmund G. Myers

Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 122502 (2009)

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Physical Review Letters

Smallest Known $Q$ Value of Any Nuclear Decay: The Rare $β^{-}$ Decay of ${}^{115}{In} (9 / 2^{+}) \to {}^{115}{Sn} (3 / 2^{+})$

J. S. E. Wieslander, J. Suhonen, T. Eronen, M. Hult, V.-V. Elomaa, A. Jokinen, G. Marissens, M. Misiaszek, M. T. Mustonen, S. Rahaman, C. Weber, and J. Äystö

Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 122501 – Published 16 September 2009

Abstract

Authors & Affiliations

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$Q$ Value of ${}^{115}{In} \to {}^{115}{Sn} (3 / 2^{+})$ : The Lowest Known Energy $β$ Decay

Brianna J. Mount, Matthew Redshaw, and Edmund G. Myers

Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 122502 (2009)

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Physical Review Letters

Smallest Known Q Value of Any Nuclear Decay: The Rare β− Decay of In115(9/2+)→Sn115(3/2+)

J. S. E. Wieslander, J. Suhonen, T. Eronen, M. Hult, V.-V. Elomaa, A. Jokinen, G. Marissens, M. Misiaszek, M. T. Mustonen, S. Rahaman, C. Weber, and J. Äystö

Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 122501 – Published 16 September 2009

Abstract

Authors & Affiliations

See Also

Q Value of In115→Sn115(3/2+): The Lowest Known Energy β Decay

Brianna J. Mount, Matthew Redshaw, and Edmund G. Myers

Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 122502 (2009)

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Smallest Known $Q$ Value of Any Nuclear Decay: The Rare $β^{-}$ Decay of ${}^{115}{In} (9 / 2^{+}) \to {}^{115}{Sn} (3 / 2^{+})$

$Q$ Value of ${}^{115}{In} \to {}^{115}{Sn} (3 / 2^{+})$ : The Lowest Known Energy $β$ Decay