An experimental study of the rearrangements of valence protons and neutrons amongst single-particle orbits during double {\beta} decay in 100Mo

TL;DR

This study experimentally investigates how protons and neutrons rearrange among single-particle orbits during double beta decay in 100Mo, revealing discrepancies with theoretical models used for decay probability calculations.

Contribution

It provides new experimental data on nucleon occupancies during double beta decay, highlighting differences from existing theoretical predictions.

Findings

Significant discrepancies between measured and theoretical nucleon occupancies.

Experimental data challenge current nuclear matrix element calculations.

Results impact understanding of double beta decay mechanisms.

Abstract

The rearrangements of protons and neutrons amongst the valence single-particle orbitals during double {\beta} decay of 100Mo have been determined by measuring cross sections in (d,p), (p,d), (3He,{\alpha}) and (3He,d) reactions on 98,100Mo and 100,102Ru targets. The deduced nucleon occupancies reveal significant discrepancies when compared with theoretical calculations; the same calculations have previously been used to determine the nuclear matrix element associated with the decay probability of double {\beta} decay of the 100Mo system.