Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 6, 2026

Preparing an Isotopically Pure 229Th Ion Beam for Studies of 229mTh
Published on: May 3, 2019
First Direct Determination of the Superallowed β-Decay QEC Value for (14)O
A A Valverde1,2, G Bollen2,3, M Brodeur4
1National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory, East Lansing, Michigan 48824 USA.
Abstract:
We report the first direct measurement of the (14)O superallowed Fermi β-decay QEC value, the last of the so-called "traditional nine" superallowed Fermi β decays to be measured with Penning trap mass spectrometry. (14)O, along with the other low-Z superallowed β emitter, (10)C, is crucial for setting limits on the existence of possible scalar currents. The new ground state QEC value, 5144.364(25) keV, when combined with the energy of the 0(+) daughter state, Ex(0(+))=2312.798(11) keV [F. Ajzenberg-Selove, Nucl. Phys. A523, 1 (1991)], provides a new determination of the superallowed β-decay QEC value, QEC(sa)=2831.566(28) keV, with an order of magnitude improvement in precision, and a similar improvement to the calculated statistical rate function f. This is used to calculate an improved Ft value of 3073.8(2.8) s.
Related Concept Videos
Types of Radioactivity
Alpha (α) decay is the emission of an α particle from the nucleus. For example, polonium-210 undergoes α decay:
Radioactivity and Nuclear Equations
A nuclide of an element has a specific number of protons and...
Radioactive Decay and Radiometric Dating
Thomson's e/m Experiment
A particle with charge q, speed v, and mass m enters an area from the top, where the magnetic and electric fields are perpendicular both to the particle's motion and to one another. The magnetic...
Nuclear Stability
To hold positively charged protons together...
Atomic Radii and Effective Nuclear Charge

