High precision half-life measurement of 125Cs and 125Xe with γ-spectroscopy

Abstract

In order to provide data for the simulation of the astrophysical γ-process, the cross section measurement of the 124 Xe(p,γ) 125 Cs reaction is in progress at MTA Atomki using the activation technique. Precise information on the decay characteristics of the reaction products is of crucial importance for measurements carried out using this method. The half-lives of the produced 125 Cs and its daughter 125 Xe are published in previous works, but with large uncertainties and ambiguous values. To make these nuclear parameters more precise, the half-lives have been re-measured with high precision using γ-spectroscopy. The obtained new half-life values are t 1/2 = 44.35 ± 0.29 minutes for 125 Cs and t 1/2 = 16.87 ± 0.08 hours for 125 Xe.

High precision half-life measurement of $$^{95}\hbox {Ru}$$, $$^{95}\hbox {Tc}$$ and $$^{95m}\hbox {Tc}$$ with $$\gamma $$-spectroscopy

“…we assume that weak γ-rays, emitted after the β-decay of other isotopes, with energies within the resolution of the HPGe detector contribute to yield of the peak of our interest (see e.g. [19]). However, the derived half-life values, based on the countings of different γ-transitions are statistically consistent and this indicates that the measured γ-yields contain no parasitic con- 3 Relative uncertainties are given in parenthesis.…”

“…After the irradiation, the samples were placed at 21 cm distance from the endcap of the detector. The nuclear electronics used for the present half-life measurement was similar to the one used in the past for the precise half-life measurements carried out at Atomki [16][17][18][19]. Namely, the signals from the detector preamplifier were first shaped (the shaping time was set to 3μs) and amplified by an ORTEC model 671 module.…”