Weak decays of H-like 140Pr58+ and He-like 140Pr57+ ions

TL;DR

This paper reports on the calculation and experimental comparison of weak decay constants for H-like and He-like 140Pr ions, confirming theoretical predictions with high accuracy.

Contribution

The study provides the first detailed calculation of decay constants for these ions and demonstrates agreement with experimental measurements within 3% accuracy.

Findings

Calculated decay constant ratios agree with experimental data within 3%

Theoretical models accurately predict weak decay behavior of highly charged ions

Supports standard weak interaction theory in describing nuclear decays of ions

Abstract

The nuclear K-shell electron-capture (EC)and positron (beta+) decay constants, lambda_(EC) and lambda_(beta^+) of H-like 140Pr58+ and He-like 140Pr57+ ions, measured recently in the ESR ion storage ring at GSI, were calculated using standard weak interaction theory. The calculated ratios R = lambda_(EC)/lambda_(beta^+) of the decay constants agree with the experimental values within an accuracy better than 3 %.