Exclusion Principle Inhibition of Beta Decay in Stellar Interiors.
Abstract
Beta decay in a high-density electron gas is investigated. It is shown that the exclusion principle can play an important role in determining the decay rate Tables describing allowed, flrst4orbidden non- unique, and first-forbidden unique decays are presented; these tables give the dependence of the beta- decay rate on the local temperature, electron density, and beta-decay energy. If the Fermi energy of the free electrons exceeds the beta-decay energy, the decay rate is strongly inhibited; the amount of inhibition decreases with increasing temperature. The relativistic dependence of the degeneracy parameter on temperature and electron density is also tabulated.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- August 1963
- DOI:
- 10.1086/147657
- Bibcode:
- 1963ApJ...138..437P