Beta-decay half-lives of new neutron-rich isotopes of Re, Os and Ir approaching the r-process path near N = 126

Heavy neutron-rich nuclei close to N = 126 were produced by fragmentation of a 1 A GeV ²⁰⁸Pb beam at the FRS at GSI. The β-decay half-lives of 7 nuclides have been determined using a novel numerical analysis method. The half-lives of ^202,199Ir, ^200,199Os and ¹⁹⁶Re are reported for the first time. The comparison of the data with model calculations provides indications on the importance of first-forbidden transitions on the β-decay of nuclei around N = 126 and Z < 82.