$\beta$-Decay Half-Life of the $rp$-Process Waiting Point Nuclide $^{84}$Mo

TL;DR

This study measures the half-life of $^{84}$Mo, a key nucleus in the rp-process during X-ray bursts, finding it shorter than previously thought and discussing its impact on nuclear reaction flow and deformation models.

Contribution

The paper provides a new, more precise half-life measurement of $^{84}$Mo and explores its implications for rp-process modeling and nuclear structure theories.

Findings

Half-life of $^{84}$Mo is 2.2 ± 0.2 seconds, shorter than previous estimates.

Measured half-life influences rp-process reaction flow models.

Results impact theoretical understanding of nuclear deformation in $^{84}$Mo.

Abstract

A half-life of 2.2 $\pm$ 0.2 s has been deduced for the ground-state $\beta$ decay of $^{84}$Mo, more than 1$\sigma$ shorter than the previously adopted value. $^{84}$Mo is an even-even N = Z nucleus lying on the proton dripline, created during explosive hydrogen burning in Type I X-ray bursts in the rapid proton capture ($rp$) process. The effect of the measured half-life on $rp$-process reaction flow is explored. Implications on theoretical treatments of nuclear deformation in $^{84}$Mo are also discussed.