Relativistic Two-Body Processes in Axial-Charge Transitions

We study the contribution of two-body meson-exchange processes to axial charge transitions for nuclei in the lead, tin and oxygen regions. We conduct calculations in the Dirac-Hartree (the Walecka model) and the relativistic Hartree (where the full one-nucleon-loop effects are included) approximations. We present results indicating that one- and two-body processes enhance the matrix elements of the axial-charge operator by some (100+-20)% in all three regions studied. This agrees well with the fit of eighteen first-forbidden beta-decay transitions conducted by Warburton in the lead region. We also discuss some sensitivities present in the calculation.Comment: 23 pages, RevTeX format, 5 PostScript figures available on reques