Anomalous internal conversion - the key to understanding the 209Bi riddle

TL;DR

This paper develops a theory of anomalous internal conversion and applies it to analyze hyperfine splitting in 209Bi ions, revealing insights into nuclear magnetization distribution.

Contribution

It introduces an extended theory of anomalous internal conversion and successfully explains experimental hyperfine splitting data in 209Bi ions.

Findings

Agreement between theory and experiment on hyperfine splitting

Insights into the magnetization distribution within the nucleus

Enhanced understanding of internal conversion processes

Abstract

Theory of anomalous internal conversion is developed, and extended for the description of the hyperfine splitting. Experimental data on the hyperfine splitting in the H- and Li-like heavy ions of 209Bi are analyzed in terms of the Bohr-Weisskopf effect. Agreement with the theory is achieved, scheduling light on the structure of the magnetization distribution over the nuclear volume.