It is pointed out that the study of Gamow-Teller ${\beta }^{+}$ decays of highly deformed $Z\approx N$ nuclei close to the proton drip line is very valuable, especially if $\log \mathrm{ft}$ values of the ${\beta }^{+}$ decays to the ground and low-lying states can be measured with good accuracy. Desirable candidates for this purpose are the ${\beta }^{+}$ decay of ${}_{38}^{76}{\mathrm{Sr}}_{38}$ and ${}_{38}^{75}{\mathrm{Sr}}_{37}.$ The possible absence of an appreciable amount of the Gamow-Teller strength of $\Delta K=0\mathrm{}$ ${\beta }^{+}$ decay of the nucleus ${}_{38}^{76}{\mathrm{Sr}}_{38}$ may be used as a measure of large deformation with strong neutron-proton pair correlation.

• Received 25 February 1999

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.60.011305