Conflicting data on ${}_{}{}^{20}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Na}$ ${\beta }^{+}$ decay are discussed. Estimates show that the process ${}_{}{}^{24}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Mg}\mathrm{}(p,2n)\mathrm{}{}_{}{}^{23}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Al}\left({\beta }^{+}\right){}_{}{}^{23}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Mg}\left(0.0\mathrm{} \mathrm{MeV}\right)$ (of indistinguishable half-life and end-point energy) interfered with early measurements of ${}_{}{}^{24}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Mg}(p,\alpha n){}_{}{}^{20}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Na}\left({\beta }^{+}\right){}_{}{}^{20}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Ne}\left(1.63\mathrm{} \mathrm{MeV}\right)$.

• Received 23 August 1972

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.7.464