The validity of the Pauli exclusion principle for nucleons has been investigated. The mean life against $p$-shell nucleons in ${}_{}{}^{12}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{C}$ falling into the fully occupied $1s_{\frac{1}{2}}$ shell has been shown to be > 6 × ${10}^{27}$ sec (99.7% confidence limit). A limit has also been obtained for the relative amplitude of symmetric components in the wave functions of nucleons.

RADIOACTIVITY ${}_{}{}^{12}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{C}$, measured $T_{\frac{1}{2}}$ against violation of Pauli exclusion principle; NaI(Tl) detector.

• Received 27 February 1979

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.20.1957