POLARIZATION OF CONVERSION ELECTRONS FOLLOWING BETA DECAY

Journal Article · Wed Sep 16 04:00:00 EDT 1959 · Nuovo Cimento (Italy) Divided into Nuovo Cimento A and Nuovo Cimento B

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02725128· OSTI ID:4216150

Becker, R L; Rose, M E

Because of the breakdown of the symmetry principles in weak interactions, beta decay provides a means of producing polarized nuclei. In allowed transitions only first rank polarization, and in forbidden transitions higher odd rank orientation is produced. This orientation is manifested in the polarization of subsequent radiations. A complete discussion of the polarization of internal conversion electrons from the K shell is given. In allowed transitions there is an appreciable longitudinal and also transverse polarization. The latter is in the plane of the momentum vectors of the beta particle and conversion electron. In general these polarizations also appear in forbidden transr-tions where contributions from higher odd rank orientation are present. In addition, the forbidden transitions are characterized by a component of polarization perpendicular to the beta -conversion electron plane. This component, which arises from the even rank orientations (for example, alignment), is a classical effect of the coincidence observation. Unfortunately, this transverse polarization is very small (a few percent at most) under practical conditions. Expressions for the polarization components are given in terms of extensively tabulated angular correlation coefficients and particle parameters for the three types of polarization. Numerical results for the longitudinal and transverse in-the-plane polarization parameters are included for mixed as well as for pure multipole transitions. Particular decay schemes involving allowed and first forbidden unique beta transitions are considered in detail and numerical values for these polarizations are given. (auth)

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., Tenn.
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-14-003006
• OSTI ID: 4216150
• Journal Information: Nuovo Cimento (Italy) Divided into Nuovo Cimento A and Nuovo Cimento B, Journal Name: Nuovo Cimento (Italy) Divided into Nuovo Cimento A and Nuovo Cimento B Vol. Vol: (10) 13; ISSN NUCIA
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

BETA DECAY
CONFIGURATION
CONVERSION
ELECTRONS
INTERACTIONS
MOMENTUM
NUCLEI
PHYSICS
POLARIZATION
TRANSIENTS
VECTORS
WEAK INTERACTIONS