Observation of Bound-State β- Decay of Fully Ionized 187Re: 187Re-187Os Cosmochronometry
Abstract
We observed the bound-state β- decay of fully ionized 187Re nuclei circulating in a storage ring. With two independent methods the time dependent growth of hydrogenlike 187Os ions has been measured and a half-life of 32.9+/-2.0 yr for bare 187Re nuclei could be determined, to be compared with 42 Gyr for neutral 187Re atoms. With the resulting logft value of 7.87+/-0.03 the half-life of 187Re ions in any ionization state can be calculated. Thus one can correct the 187Re-187Os galactic chronometer calibration, by taking account of the β- decay enhancement in stellar interiors, which will lead to a more accurate estimate of the galactic age.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review Letters
- Pub Date:
- December 1996
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevLett.77.5190
- Bibcode:
- 1996PhRvL..77.5190B