Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 7, 2025

Preparing an Isotopically Pure 229Th Ion Beam for Studies of 229mTh
Published on: May 3, 2019
New ^{59}Fe Stellar Decay Rate with Implications for the ^{60}Fe Radioactivity in Massive Stars
B Gao1,2, S Giraud3, K A Li1,2
1CAS Key Laboratory of High Precision Nuclear Spectroscopy, Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 73000, People's Republic of China.
Abstract:
The discrepancy between observations from γ-ray astronomy of the ^{60}Fe/^{26}Al γ-ray flux ratio and recent calculations is an unresolved puzzle in nuclear astrophysics. The stellar β-decay rate of ^{59}Fe is one of the major nuclear uncertainties impeding us from a precise prediction. The important Gamow-Teller strengths from the low-lying states in ^{59}Fe to the ^{59}Co ground state are measured for the first time using the exclusive measurement of the ^{59}Co(t,^{3}He+γ)^{59}Fe charge-exchange reaction. The new stellar decay rate of ^{59}Fe is a factor of 3.5±1.1 larger than the currently adopted rate at T=1.2 GK. Stellar evolution calculations show that the ^{60}Fe production yield of an 18 solar mass star is decreased significantly by 40% when using the new rate. Our result eliminates one of the major nuclear uncertainties in the predicted yield of ^{60}Fe and alleviates the existing discrepancy of the ^{60}Fe/^{26}Al ratio.
Related Concept Videos
Nuclear Stability
To hold positively charged protons together...
Radioactive Decay and Radiometric Dating
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...
Isotopes and Radioisotopes
An isotope containing...
Atomic Nuclei: Larmor Precession Frequency

