Measurement of the {beta}{sup +} and Orbital Electron-Capture Decay Rates in Fully Ionized, Hydrogenlike, and Heliumlike {sup 140}Pr Ions

Journal Article · Mon Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 2007 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVLETT.99.262501· OSTI ID:21028232

Litvinov, Yu A; Geissel, H; Winckler, N; Knoebel, R; Litvinov, S A; Scheidenberger, C ^[1]; Bosch, F; Beckert, K; Brandau, C; Dimopoulou, C; Hess, S; Kozhuharov, C; Mazzocco, M; Nociforo, C; Nolden, F; Prochazka, A; Reuschl, R; Steck, M; Stoehlker, T; Trassinelli, M ^[1]

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1. Gesellschaft fuer Schwerionenforschung GSI, Planckstrasse 1, 64291 Darmstadt (Germany)

We report on the first measurement of the {beta}{sup +} and orbital electron-capture decay rates of {sup 140}Pr nuclei with the simplest electron configurations: bare nuclei, hydrogenlike, and heliumlike ions. The measured electron-capture decay constant of hydrogenlike {sup 140}Pr{sup 58+} ions is about 50% larger than that of heliumlike {sup 140}Pr{sup 57+} ions. Moreover, {sup 140}Pr ions with one bound electron decay faster than neutral {sup 140}Pr{sup 0+} atoms with 59 electrons. To explain this peculiar observation one has to take into account the conservation of the total angular momentum, since only particular spin orientations of the nucleus and of the captured electron can contribute to the allowed decay.

• OSTI ID: 21028232
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 26 Vol. 99; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
ANGULAR MOMENTUM
ELECTRON CAPTURE DECAY
ELECTRONS
MULTICHARGED IONS
PRASEODYMIUM 140
PRASEODYMIUM IONS
SPIN ORIENTATION