Radiative β decay of the free neutron

The theory of quantum electrodynamics predicts that the β decay of the neutron into a proton, electron, and antineutrino is accompanied by a continuous spectrum of emitted photons described as inner bremsstrahlung. While this phenomenon has been observed in nuclear β decay and electron-capture decay for many years, it has only been recently observed in free-neutron decay. We present a detailed discussion of an experiment in which the radiative decay mode of the free neutron was observed. In this experiment, the branching ratio for this rare decay was determined by recording photons that were correlated with both the electron and proton emitted in neutron decay. We determined the branching ratio for photons with energy between 15 and 340 keV to be (3.09±0.32)×10-3 (68% level of confidence), where the uncertainty is dominated by systematic effects. This value for the branching ratio is consistent with theoretical predictions. The characteristic energy spectrum of the radiated photons, which differs from the uncorrelated background spectrum, is also consistent with the theoretical spectrum

A gamma- and X-ray detector for cryogenic, high magnetic field applications

As part of an experiment to measure the spectrum of photons emitted in beta-decay of the free neutron, we developed and operated a detector consisting of 12 bismuth germanate (BGO) crystals coupled to avalanche photodiodes (APDs). The detector was operated near liquid nitrogen temperature in the bore of a superconducting magnet and registered photons with energies from 5 keV to 1000 keV. To enlarge the detection range, we also directly detected soft X-rays with energies between 0.2 keV and 20 keV with three large area APDs. The construction and operation of the detector is presented, as well as information on operation of APDs at cryogenic temperatures

On the half-life of {sup 44}Ti

One of the few long-lived gamma-ray emitting radioisotopes expected to be produced in substantial quantities during a supernova explosion is {sup 44}Ti. The relevant portions of the decay schemes of {sup 44}Ti and its daughter {sup 44}Sc are shown. {sup 44}Ti decays to {sup 44}Sc emitting {gamma} rays of 68 and 78 keV. {sup 44}Sc subsequently decays with a 3.93-hour half life to {sup 44}Ca emitting an 1,157-keV {gamma}ray. This characteristic 1,157-keV {gamma} ray from the decay of {sup 44}Ti has recently been observed from the supernova remnant Cas A. In order to compare the predicted {gamma}-ray flux to that actually observed from this remnant, one must know the half-life of {sup 44}Ti. However, published values for this quantity range from 46.4 to 66.6 years. Given that the Cas A supernova is believed to have occurred approximately 300 years ago, this translates to an uncertainty by a factor of 4 in the amount of {sup 44}Ti ejected by this supernova. Thus, in order to provide an accurate and reliable value for this important quantity, the authors have performed a new experiment to determine the half-life of {sup 44}Ti. The authors produced {sup 44}Ti via the {sup 45}Sc(p,2n) reaction using 40 MeV protons from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory`s 88-Inch Cyclotron. In the present experiment, the authors attempted to use all three {sup 44}Ti {gamma}-ray lines to determine its half life. However, analysis of the {sup 241}Am and {sup 137}Cs lines produced an incorrect value for the half life of each of these isotopes. On the other hand, the analysis of the {sup 22}Na line produced a result that agreed to within 0.5% of the known value of 2.603 years. Thus, they decided to concentrate their effort on the analysis of the 1,157-keV line. The half life of {sup 44}Ti that they deduce from this experiment is 63 {+-} 3 years