High-Precision Measurement of the Ne19 Half-Life and Implications for Right-Handed Weak Currents

S. Triambak, P. Finlay, C. S. Sumithrarachchi, G. Hackman, G. C. Ball, P. E. Garrett, C. E. Svensson, D. S. Cross, A. B. Garnsworthy, R. Kshetri, J. N. Orce, M. R. Pearson, E. R. Tardiff, H. Al-Falou, R. A. E. Austin, R. Churchman, M. K. Djongolov, R. D’Entremont, C. Kierans, L. Milovanovic, S. O’Hagan, S. Reeve, S. K. L. Sjue, and S. J. Williams
Phys. Rev. Lett. 109, 042301 – Published 27 July 2012

Abstract

We report a precise determination of the Ne19 half-life to be T1/2=17.262±0.007s. This result disagrees with the most recent precision measurements and is important for placing bounds on predicted right-handed interactions that are absent in the current standard model. We are able to identify and disentangle two competing systematic effects that influence the accuracy of such measurements. Our findings prompt a reassessment of results from previous high-precision lifetime measurements that used similar equipment and methods.

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  • Received 27 April 2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.109.042301

© 2012 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

S. Triambak1,2,*, P. Finlay3, C. S. Sumithrarachchi3,†, G. Hackman1, G. C. Ball1, P. E. Garrett3, C. E. Svensson3, D. S. Cross1,4, A. B. Garnsworthy1, R. Kshetri1,4, J. N. Orce1,5, M. R. Pearson1, E. R. Tardiff1, H. Al-Falou1, R. A. E. Austin6, R. Churchman1, M. K. Djongolov1, R. D’Entremont6, C. Kierans7, L. Milovanovic8, S. O’Hagan9, S. Reeve6, S. K. L. Sjue1, and S. J. Williams1,†

  • 1TRIUMF, 4004 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 2A3, Canada
  • 2Department of Physics and Astrophysics, University of Delhi, Delhi 100 007, India
  • 3Department of Physics, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
  • 4Department of Chemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia V5A 1S6, Canada
  • 5Department of Physics, University of the Western Cape, P/B X17, Bellville, ZA-7535, South Africa
  • 6Department of Astronomy and Physics, Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 3C3, Canada
  • 7Physics Department, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia V5A 1S6, Canada
  • 8Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V4T 1Z1, Canada
  • 9Department of Science, University of Alberta Augustana Campus, Camrose, Alberta T4V 2R3, Canada

  • *smarajit@gmail.com
  • Present address: National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.

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Vol. 109, Iss. 4 — 27 July 2012

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