Estimation of Ru-97 Half-Life Using the Most Frequent Value Method and Bootstrapping Techniques

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new statistical approach combining the most frequent value method and bootstrapping to achieve a more precise estimate of the Ru-97 half-life, significantly reducing uncertainty compared to previous data.

Contribution

It applies the MFV and hybrid parametric bootstrap techniques to refine nuclear half-life measurements, providing a more accurate and reliable estimate with lower uncertainty.

Findings

Half-life estimate: 2.8385 days with reduced uncertainty

Uncertainty decreased over 30 times compared to previous data

Method can further reduce uncertainty by 44%

Abstract

A new and robust statistics was applied to previous measurements of the 97Ru half-life. This process incorporates the most frequent value (MFV) technique along with hybrid parametric bootstrap (HPB) method to deliver a more precise estimate of the 97Ru half-life. The derived value is T1/2,MFV(HPB) = 2.8385+0.0022-0.0075 days. This estimate corresponds to a 68.27% confidence interval ranging from 2.8310 to 2.8407 days, and a 95.45% confidence interval ranging from 2.8036 to 2.8485 days, calculated using the percentile method. This level of uncertainty is significantly lower-over 30 times-than the uncertainty in the previously recognized half-life value found in nuclear data sheets. Employing an alternate approach to minimization could further cut down the statistical uncertainty by 44% for the 97Ru half-life. In particular, the HPB method accounts for uncertainties in small datasets when determining the confidence interval. When the HPB method, in combination with the MFV approach, was used to review a four-element dataset of the specific activity of 39Ar based on underground data, the result was SA_MFV(HPB) = 0.966 +0.027 -0.020 Bq/kg_atmAr. This value results in a 68.27% confidence interval of 0.946 to 0.993, along with a 95.45% confidence interval of 0.921 to 1.029, also determined using the percentile method.