Phys.Rev. C 105, 064301 (2022)

B.C.Rasco, K.P.Rykaczewski, A.Fijalkowska, M.Karny, M.Wolinska-Cichocka, R.K.Grzywacz, D.W.Stracener, E.F.Zganjar, J.C.Batchelder, J.C.Blackmon, N.T.Brewer, M.P.Cooper, K.C.Goetz, J.W.Johnson, T.King, A.Laminack, J.T.Matta, K.Miernik, M.Madurga, D.Miller, M.M.Rajabali, T.Ruland, P.Shuai, M.Stepaniuk, J.Winger

Deciphering ⁹⁸Nb β decay with the Modular Total Absorption Spectrometer at ORNL

RADIOACTIVITY ⁹⁸Nb(β^-)[from decay chains of ⁹⁸Rb and ⁹⁸Sr produced in ²³⁸U(p, F) at HRIBF-ORNL facility]; measured Eγ, Iγ, total absorption γ-ray spectrum using NaI(Tl)-based Modular Total Absorption Spectrometer (MTAS); deduced average γ energy per β decay, and average ν-bar; discussed impact of measured β-feeding pattern on reactor decay heat calculations and predicted detection rates of reactor ν-bar. ⁹⁸Zr; measured T_1/2 with ⁹⁸Zr and ⁹⁸Nb in equilibrium, and compared with value in the ENSDF database. ⁹⁸Mo; deduced levels, β feedings to the g.s. and excited states, logft, conversion electron per β decay from the E0 transition from the first excited 0+ state in ⁹⁸Mo. Comparison with β feedings and average γ energy in the ENSDF and ENDF/B-VIII.0 databases, and with previous experimental results. Relevance to the study of β^- decays of abundantly produced fission products in nuclear reactors.

doi: 10.1103/PhysRevC.105.064301