Beyond low beta-decay Q values

Journal Article · Wed Nov 24 00:00:00 EST 2010 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3527233· OSTI ID:21506876

Mustonen, M T; Suhonen, J ^[1]

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1. Department of Physics, P.O. Box 35 (YFL), FI-40014 University of Jyvaeskylae (Finland)

Beta decays with low Q values can be utilized in the quest to determine the neutrino mass scale. This is being realized in two experiments, KATRIN and MARE, using tritium and {sup 187}Re, respectively. The beta-decay of {sup 187}Re had the lowest known Q value until 2005, when the beta decay of {sup 115}In to the first excited state of {sup 115}Sn was discovered in Gran Sasso underground laboratory. Last year two independent ion trap measurements confirmed that this decay breaks the former record by an order of magnitude.Our theoretical study on this tiny decay channel complemented the experimental effort by the JYFLTRAP group in Finland and HADES underground laboratory in Belgium. A significant discrepancy between the experimental and theoretical results was found. This might be explained by various atomic contributions known to grow larger as the Q value decreases. However, the traditional recipes for taking these effects into account break down on this new ultra-low Q value regime, providing new challenges for theorists on the borderline between nuclear and atomic physics.

• OSTI ID: 21506876
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 1304, Issue 1; Conference: Carpathian summer school of physics - Exotic nuclei and nuclear/particle astrophysics (III): From nuclei to stars, Sinaia (Romania), 20 Jun - 3 Jul 2010; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3527233; (c) 2010 American Institute of Physics; ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
BETA DECAY
EXCITED STATES
INDIUM 115
IONS
MASS
NEUTRINOS
Q-VALUE
RHENIUM 187
TIN 115
TRAPS
TRITIUM
UNDERGROUND
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CHARGED PARTICLES
DECAY
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ENERGY
ENERGY LEVELS
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FERMIONS
HEAVY NUCLEI
HOURS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
HYDROGEN ISOTOPES
INDIUM ISOTOPES
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
INTERNAL CONVERSION RADIOISOTOPES
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
LEPTONS
LEVELS
LIGHT NUCLEI
MASSLESS PARTICLES
NUCLEAR DECAY
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
RADIOISOTOPES
RHENIUM ISOTOPES
STABLE ISOTOPES
TIN ISOTOPES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES