arXiv subjects

I. S. Towner

Publications and source records attributed to I. S. Towner.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2021

$\mathcal{F}t$ values of the mirror $β$ transitions and the weak magnetism induced current in allowed nuclear $β$ decay

In recent years a number of correlation measurements in nuclear $β$ decay have been performed reaching a precision of the order of 1\% and below and it is expected that even higher precision will be reached in the near future. At these levels of precision higher-order corrections due to e.g. recoil terms induced by the strong interaction and radiative corrections cannot necessarily be neglected anymore when interpreting these results in terms of new physics or extracting a value for the $V_{ud}$ quark-mixing matrix element. We provide here an update of the $\mathcal{F} t$ values of the $T=1/2$ mirror $β$ decays as well as an overview of current experimental and theoretical knowledge of the most important recoil term, weak magnetism, for both the $T=1/2$ mirror $β$ transitions and a large set of $β$ decays in higher isospin multiplets. The matrix elements determining weak magnetism were calculated in the nuclear shell model and cross-checked against experimental data, showing overall good agreement. Additionally, we show that further insight can be obtained from properly deformed nuclear potentials, in particular for mirror $T=1/2$ decays.. The results provide new insights in the size of weak magnetism, extending the available information to $β$ transitions of nuclei with masses up to $A =$ 75. This provides important guidance for the planning and interpretation of ongoing and new precise correlation measurements in nuclear $β$ decay searching for new physics or to extract the $V_{ud}$ quark-mixing matrix element in mirror $β$ decays. This more detailed knowledge of weak magnetism can also be of interest for further theoretical work related to the reactor neutrino problem.

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arXiv2018

Nuclear beta decays and CKM unitarity

Nuclear beta decays between (J^pi,T) = (0^+,1) analog states yield the best value for the Vud element of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix. Current world data establish the corrected Ft values of 14 separate superallowed transitions to a precision of order 0.1% or better. The validity of the small theoretical correction terms is confirmed by excellent consistency among the 14 Ft values and by recent measurements that compare pairs of mirror superallowed transitions. With consistency established, the results now yield |Vud| = 0.97420(21). This value is consistent with the considerably less precise results obtained from beta decays of the neutron, the pion and T=1/2 mirror nuclei, which are hampered by experimental challenges.

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arXiv2016

A Search for $0^+$ States in $^{50}$Cr: Implications for the Superallowed $β$-decay of $^{50}$Mn

A $^{52}$Cr$(p,t)$$^{50}$Cr two-neutron pickup reaction was performed using the Q3D magnetic spectrograph at the Maier-Leibnitz-Laboratorium in Garching, Germany. Excited states in $^{50}$Cr were observed up to an excitation energy of 5.3 MeV. Despite significantly increased sensitivity and resolution over previous work, no evidence of the previously assigned first excited $0^+$ state was found. As a result, the $0^+_2$ state is reassigned at an excitation energy of $E_x=3895.0(5)$ keV in $^{50}$Cr. This reassignment directly impacts direct searches for a non-analogue Fermi $β^+$ decay branch in $^{50}$Mn. These results also show better systematic agreement with the theoretical predictions for the $0^+$ state spectrum in $^{50}$Cr using the same formalism as the isospin-symmetry-breaking correction calculations for superallowed nuclei. The experimental data are also compared to $ab$-$initio$ shell-model predictions using the IM-SRG formalism based on $NN$ and $3N$ forces from chiral-EFT in the $pf$-shell for the first time.

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arXiv2015

Theoretical corrections and world data for the superallowed ft values in the beta decays of 42Ti, 46Cr, 50Fe and 54Ni

Prompted by recent measurements, we have surveyed world data and calculated radiative and isospin-symmetry breaking corrections for the superallowed 0+ -to- 0+ Fermi transitions from 42Ti, 46Cr, 50Fe and 54Ni. This increases the number of such transition with a complete set of calculated corrections from 20 to 23. The results are compared with their equivalents for the mirror superallowed transitions from 42Sc, 46V, 50Mn and 54Co. The predicted ft-value asymmetries of these mirror pairs are sensitive to the correction terms and provide motivation for improving measurement precision so as to be able to test the corrections. To aid in that endeavor, we present a parameterization for calculating the f values for the new transitions to plus/minus 0.01%.

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arXiv2015

The current evaluation of Vud

The Vud element of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix can be determined from several different experimental approaches: either 0+-to-0+ superallowed nuclear beta decays, neutron decay, nuclear mirror decays, or pion beta decay. Currently all give consistent results but, because the nuclear superallowed value has an uncertainty at least a factor of seven less than all other results, it dominates the result. A new survey of world superallowed-decay data establishes the Ft values of 14 separate superallowed transitions to a precision of order 0.1% or better; and all 14 are statistically consistent with one another. This very robust data set yields the result Vud = 0.97417(21), the value we recommend.

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arXiv2015

Precise measurement of branching ratios in the beta decay of 38Ca

We present the full description of a measurement of the branching ratios for the beta-decay of 38Ca. This decay includes five allowed 0+ --> 1+ branches and a superallowed 0+ --> 0+ one. With our new result for the latter, we determine its ft value to be 3062.3(68) s, a result whose precision (0.2%) is comparable to the precision of the thirteen well known 0+ --> 0+ transitions used up till now for the determination of Vud, the up-down quark-mixing element of the CKM matrix. The 38Ca superallowed transition thus becomes the first addition to this set of transitions in nearly a decade and the first for which a precise mirror comparison is possible, thus enabling an improved test of the isospin-symmetry-breaking corrections required for the extraction of Vud.

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arXiv2014

Parameterization of the statistical rate function for select superallowed transitions

We present a parameterization of the statistical rate function, f, for 20 superallowed 0+-to-0+ nuclear beta transitions between T=1 analog states, and for 18 superallowed "mirror" transitions between analog T=1/2 states. All these transitions are of interest in the determination of V_{ud}. Although most of the transition Q_{EC} values have been measured, their precision will undoubtedly be improved in future. Our parameterization allows a user to easily calculate the corresponding new f value to high precision (+/-0.01%) without complicated computing.

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arXiv2014

Superallowed 0+ --> 0+ nuclear beta decays: 2014 critical survey, with precise results for Vud and CKM unitarity

A new critical survey is presented of all half-life, decay-energy and branching-ratio measurements related to 20 superallowed 0+ --> 0+ beta decays. Included are 222 individual measurements of comparable precision obtained from 177 published references. Compared with our last review in 2008, we have added results from 24 new publications and eliminated 9 references, the results from which having been superseded by much more precise modern data. We obtain world-average ft-values for each of the eighteen transitions that have a complete set of data, then apply radiative and isospin-symmetry-breaking corrections to extract corrected Ft values. Fourteen of these Ft values now have a precision of order 0.1% or better. In the process of obtaining these results we carefully evaluate the available calculations of the isospin-symmetry-breaking corrections by testing the extent to which they lead to Ft values consistent with conservation of the vector current (CVC). Only one set of calculations satisfactorily meets this condition. The resultant average Ft value, when combined with the muon liftime, yields the up-down quark-mixing element of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa (CKM) matrix, Vud = 0.97417 +/- 0.00021. The unitarity test on the top row of the matrix becomes |Vud|^2 + |Vus|^2 + |Vub|^2 = 0.99978 +/- 0.00055 if the Particle Data Group recommended value for Vus is used. However, recent lattice QCD calculations, not included yet in the PDG evaluation, have introduced some inconsistency into kaon-decay measurements of Vus and Vus/Vud. We examine the impact of these new results on the unitarity test and conclude that there is no evidence of any statistically significant violation of unitarity. Finally, from the Ft-value data we also set limits on the possible existence of scalar interactions.

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arXiv2014

Measurement of the $β$-asymmetry parameter of $^{67}$Cu in search for tensor type currents in the weak interaction

Precision measurements at low energy search for physics beyond the Standard Model in a way complementary to searches for new particles at colliders. In the weak sector the most general $β$ decay Hamiltonian contains, besides vector and axial-vector terms, also scalar, tensor and pseudoscalar terms. Current limits on the scalar and tensor coupling constants from neutron and nuclear $β$ decay are on the level of several percent. The goal of this paper is extracting new information on tensor coupling constants by measuring the $β$-asymmetry parameter in the pure Gamow-Teller decay of $^{67}$Cu, thereby testing the V-A structure of the weak interaction. An iron sample foil into which the radioactive nuclei were implanted was cooled down to milliKelvin temperatures in a $^3$He-$^4$He dilution refrigerator. An external magnetic field of 0.1 T, in combination with the internal hyperfine magnetic field, oriented the nuclei. The anisotropic $β$ radiation was observed with planar high purity germanium detectors operating at a temperature of about 10\,K. An on-line measurement of the $β$ asymmetry of $^{68}$Cu was performed as well for normalization purposes. Systematic effects were investigated using Geant4 simulations. The experimental value, $\tilde{A}$ = 0.587(14), is in agreement with the Standard Model value of 0.5991(2) and is interpreted in terms of physics beyond the Standard Model. The limits obtained on possible tensor type charged currents in the weak interaction hamiltonian are -0.045 $< (C_T+C'_T)/C_A <$ 0.159 (90\% C.L.). The obtained limits are comparable to limits from other correlation measurements in nuclear $β$ decay and contribute to further constraining tensor coupling constants.

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arXiv2014

The beta decay of 38Ca: Sensitive test of isospin symmetry-breaking corrections from mirror superallowed 0+-to-0+ transitions

We report the first branching-ratio measurement of the superallowed 0+-to-0+ beta transition from 38Ca. The result, 0.7728(16), leads to an ft value of 3062.3(68)s with a relative precision of +/-0.2%. This makes possible a high-precision comparison of the ft values for the mirror superallowed transitions, 38Ca-to-38mK and 38mK-to-38Ar, which sensitively tests the isospin symmetry-breaking corrections required to extract Vud, the up-down quark-mixing element of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa (CKM) matrix, from superallowed beta decay. The result supports the corrections currently used, and points the way to even tighter constraints on CKM unitarity.

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arXiv2013

The measurement and interpretation of superallowed 0+ to 0+ nuclear beta decay

Measurements of the decay strength of superallowed 0+ to 0+ nuclear beta transitions shed light on the fundamental properties of weak interactions. Because of their impact, such measurements were first reported 60 years ago in the early 1950s and have continued unabated ever since, always taking advantage of improvements in experimental techniques to achieve ever higher precision. The results helped first to shape the Electroweak Standard Model but more recently have evolved into sensitively testing that model's predictions. Today they provide the most demanding test of vector-current conservation and of the unitarity of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix. Here, we review the experimental and theoretical methods that have been, and are being, used to characterize superallowed 0+ to 0+ beta transitions and to extract fundamentally important parameters from their analysis.

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arXiv2012

Precision Measurement of the 6He Half-Life and the Weak Axial Current in Nuclei

Studies of 6He beta decay along with tritium can play an important role in testing ab-initio nuclear wave-function calculations and may allow for fixing low-energy constants in effective field theories. Here, we present an improved determination of the 6He half-life to a relative precision of 3x10^(-4). Our value of 806.89 \pm 0.11(stat)^{+0.23}_{-0.19}(syst) ms resolves a major discrepancy between previous measurements. Calculating the statistical rate function we determined the ft-value to be 803.04 ^{+0.26}_{-0.23} s. The extracted Gamow-Teller matrix element agrees within a few percent with ab-initio calculations.

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arXiv2011

The beta Decay of 32Cl: Precision gamma-Ray Spectroscopy and a Measurement of Isospin-Symmetry Breaking

Background: Models to calculate small isospin-symmetry-breaking effects in superallowed Fermi decays have been placed under scrutiny in recent years. A stringent test of these models is to measure transitions for which the correction is predicted to be large. The decay of 32Cl decay provides such a test case. Purpose: To improve the gamma yields following the beta decay of 32Cl and to determine the ft values of the the beta branches, particularly the one to the isobaric-analogue state in 32S. Method: Reaction-produced and recoil-spectrometer-separated 32Cl is collected in tape and transported to a counting location where beta-gamma coincidences are measured with a precisely-calibrated HPGe detector. Results: The precision on the gamma yields for most of the known beta branches has been improved by about an order of magnitude, and many new transitions have been observed. We have determined 32Cl-decay transition strengths extending up to E_x~11 MeV. The ft value for the decay to the isobaric-analogue state in 32S has been measured. A comparison to a shell-model calculation shows good agreement. CONCLUSIONS: We have experimentally determined the isospin-symmetry-breaking correction to the superallowed transition of this decay to be (δ_C-δ_NS)_exp=5.4(9)%, significantly larger than for any other known superallowed Fermi transition. This correction agrees with a shell-model calculation, which yields δ_C-δ_NS=4.8(5)%. Our results also provide a way to improve the measured ft values for the beta decay of 32Ar.

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arXiv2011

Experimental Validation of the Largest Calculated Isospin-Symmetry-Breaking Effect in a Superallowed Fermi Decay

A precision measurement of the gamma yields following the beta decay of 32Cl has determined its isobaric analogue branch to be (22.47^{+0.21}_{-0.19})%. Since it is an almost pure Fermi decay, we can also determine the amount of isospin-symmetry breaking in this superallowed transition. We find a very large value, delta_C=5.3(9)%, in agreement with a shell-model calculation. This result sets a benchmark for isospin-symmetry-breaking calculations and lends support for similarly-calculated, yet smaller, corrections that are currently applied to 0+ -> 0+ transitions for tests of the Standard Model.

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arXiv2011

Vud from Nuclear Decays

The current value of Vud is determined from superallowed beta-decay experiments. Other methods, briefly summarised here, have to overcome specific experimental hurdles before they are competitive. However, the nuclear results do depend on a nuclear-structure calculation of isospin-symmetry breaking, which is often a cause of some concern. We show here, by adopting the Conserved Vector Current (CVC) hypothesis, that these theoretical corrections can be tested for consistency. In this test, calculations based on the shell model with Saxon-Woods radial functions perform the best.

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arXiv2010

Comparative tests of isospin-symmetry-breaking corrections to superallowed 0+-to-0+ nuclear beta decay

We present a test with which to evaluate the calculated isospin-symmetry-breaking corrections to superallowed 0+-to-0+ nuclear beta decay. The test is based on the corrected experimental Ft values being required to satisfy conservation of the vector current (CVC). When applied to six sets of published calculations, the test demonstrates quantitatively that only one set -- the one based on the shell model with Saxon-Woods radial wave functions -- provides satisfactory agreement with CVC. This test can easily be applied to any sets of calculated correction terms that are produced in future.

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arXiv2010

Precision measurements of the $^{60}$Co $β$-asymmetry parameter in search for tensor currents in weak interactions

The $β$-asymmetry parameter $\widetilde{A}$ for the Gamow-Teller decay of $^{60}$Co was measured by polarizing the radioactive nuclei with the brute force low-temperature nuclear-orientation method. The $^{60}$Co activity was cooled down to milliKelvin temperatures in a $^3$He-$^4$He dilution refrigerator in an external 13 T magnetic field. The $β$ particles were observed by a 500 $μm$ thick Si PIN diode operating at a temperature of about 10 K in a magnetic field of 0.6 T. Extensive GEANT4 Monte-Carlo simulations were performed to gain control over the systematic effects. Our result, $\widetilde{A} = -1.014(12)_{stat}(16)_{syst}$, is in agreement with the Standard-Model value of $-0.987(9)$, which includes recoil-order corrections that were addressed for the first time for this isotope. Further, it enables limits to be placed on possible tensor-type charged weak currents as well as other physics beyond the Standard Model.

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arXiv2009

Doubly-magic nature of 56Ni: measurement of the ground state nuclear magnetic dipole moment of 55Ni

The nuclear magnetic moment of the ground state of $^{55}$Ni ($I^π=3/2^{-}, T_{1/2}=204$ ms) has been deduced to be $|μ$^{55}Ni)$|=(0.976 \pm 0.026)$ $μ_N$ using the $β$-NMR technique. Results of a shell model calculation in the full \textit{fp} shell model space with the GXPF1 interaction reproduce the experimental value. Together with the known magnetic moment of the mirror partner $^{55}$Co, the isoscalar spin expectation value was extracted as $<\sum σ_z >=0.91 \pm 0.07$. The $<\sum σ_z>$ shows a similar trend as that established in the \textit{sd} shell. The present theoretical interpretations of both $μ(^{55}$Ni) and $<\sum σ_z>$ for the $T=1/2$, A=55 mirror partners support the softness of the $^{56}$Ni core.

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