The $\beta$ decay of ${}_{}{}^{19}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Ne}$ has been studied by measuring the $\gamma$-ray spectrum with a Ge(Li) detector. Sources were made in the ${}_{}{}^{19}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{F}\mathrm{}(p,n)\mathrm{}{}_{}{}^{19}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Ne}$ reaction by 7.0-MeV proton bombardment of Ca${\mathrm{F}}_2$ or Ba${\mathrm{F}}_2$ targets mounted in a graphite "rabbit." From the intensity of a weak 1357-keV peak relative to 511-keV $\gamma$ rays the ${\beta }^{+}$ branching of ${}_{}{}^{19}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Ne}$ to the 1554-keV state of ${}_{}{}^{19}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{O}$ was found to be (2.1 ± 0.3) × ${10}^{-5\mathrm{}}$ per decay. This is a factor of 2.6 larger than a recently reported value but does not substantially improve the prospects for an experiment designed to study neutral currents in weak interactions.

RADIOACTIVITY ${}_{}{}^{19}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Ne}$: measured $I_{\gamma }$; deduced ${\beta }^{+}$ branch, $log\mathrm{ft}$ value.

• Received 22 December 1975

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.13.2593