High Precision Measurement of the $^{19}$Ne Half-life using real-time digital acquisition

TL;DR

This paper reports the most precise measurement of the $^{19}$Ne half-life using a real-time digital acquisition system, with detailed analysis of experimental effects and implications for nuclear physics research.

Contribution

It introduces a novel real-time digital measurement approach for half-life determination, improving precision and analyzing bias factors comprehensively.

Findings

Half-life of $^{19}$Ne measured as 17.2569 seconds

Achieved highest precision for $^{19}$Ne half-life to date

Methodology effectively accounts for experimental biases

Abstract

The half-life of $^{19}$Ne has been measured using a real-time digital multiparametric acquisition system providing an accurate time-stamp and relevant information on the detectors signals for each decay event. An exhaustive offline analysis of the data gave unique access to experimental effects potentially biasing the measurement. After establishing the influence factors impacting the measurement such as after-pulses, pile-up, gain and base line fluctuations, their effects were accurately estimated and the event selection optimized. The resulting half-life, $17.2569\pm0.0019_{(stat)}\pm0.0009_{(syst)}$~s, is the most precise up to now for $^{19}$Ne. It is found in agreement with two recent precise measurements and not consistent with the most recent one [L.J. Broussard {\it et al.}, Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf112}, 212301 (2014)] by 3.0 standard deviations. The full potential of the technique for nuclei with half-lives of a few seconds is discussed.