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Bremsstrahlung in alpha decay reexamined
H Boie1, H Scheit, U D Jentschura
1Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik, D-69117 Heidelberg, Germany.
Physical Review Letters
|August 7, 2007
Summary
This study measured bremsstrahlung in polonium-210 alpha decay, finding good agreement between experimental data and theoretical calculations. Interference between electric dipole and quadrupole contributions significantly affects angular correlations.
Area of Science:
- Nuclear Physics
- Atomic and Molecular Physics
Background:
- Alpha decay is a fundamental radioactive process.
- Bremsstrahlung emission accompanies nuclear transitions.
- Understanding these emissions is crucial for nuclear structure and decay studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a high-statistics measurement of bremsstrahlung emitted during the alpha decay of polonium-210.
- To compare experimental photon spectra with theoretical predictions.
- To investigate the interference effects between different multipole contributions to bremsstrahlung.
Main Methods:
- High-statistics experimental measurement of photon spectra.
- Theoretical calculations using quasiclassical approximation.
- Exact quantum mechanical calculations for comparison.
Main Results:
- Photon spectra were measured up to approximately 500 keV.
- Experimental results show good agreement with both quasiclassical and exact quantum mechanical calculations.
- A significant interference between electric dipole and quadrupole contributions was observed due to a small effective electric dipole charge.
- This interference substantially alters the angular correlation between the alpha particle and the emitted photon.
Conclusions:
- The theoretical models accurately describe the bremsstrahlung emission in polonium-210 alpha decay.
- The interplay of electric dipole and quadrupole radiation is a key factor influencing angular correlations.
- This research provides valuable insights into the complex electromagnetic processes during alpha decay.
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