An Investigation into the 113-Cd Beta Decay Spectrum using a CdZnTe Array

TL;DR

This study measures the beta decay spectrum of 113-Cd using CdZnTe detectors, providing precise half-life and spectral shape data for a rare, long-lived decay process, with implications for nuclear physics and decay modeling.

Contribution

First comprehensive set of independent measurements of 113-Cd beta decay half-life and spectral shape using CdZnTe detectors, achieving high precision for extremely long half-lives.

Findings

Half-life of (8.00 +/- 0.11(stat) +/- 0.24(sys)) x 10^15 years

Q value of 322.2 +/- 0.3(stat) +/- 0.9(sys) keV

First statistically representative measurements of such long half-lives

Abstract

We present 11 independent measurements of the half-life and spectral shape of the 4-fold forbidden beta decay of 113-Cd using CdZnTe semiconductors with a total combined lifetime of 6.58 kg days. Our overall result gives a half-life of (8.00 +/- 0.11(stat) +/- 0.24(sys)) x 10^15 years and a Q value of 322.2 +/- 0.3(stat) +/- 0.9(sys) keV. For the first time half-lives well beyond 10^10 years have been deduced with a statistically representative sample of independent measurements.