Secondary electrons emitted during nuclear $\beta^{-}$ decay in few-electron atoms

TL;DR

This paper investigates secondary electron emission during nuclear beta-minus decay in light atoms, developing a method to determine transition probabilities and electron spectra, including fast delta-electrons.

Contribution

It introduces a novel procedure to calculate transition probabilities and energy spectra of secondary electrons emitted during beta-minus decay in light atoms.

Findings

Method to determine transition probabilities established

Energy spectrum of secondary electrons characterized

Brief discussion on emission of fast delta-electrons

Abstract

`Additional' ionization of light atoms and ions during nuclear $\beta^{-}$ decay is investigated. The procedure which can be used to determine the corresponding transition probabilities and the velocity/energy spectrum of secondary electrons is developed. Emission of very fast secondary electrons ($\delta-$electrons) from $\beta^{-}$-decaying atoms is also briefly discussed.