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Beta Spectrum of Tritium

Abstract

THE β-spectrum of tritium (1H3) is of particular interest because : (1) the relatively simple structure of the 1H3 nucleus makes it Well suited to a test of the Fermi theory of β-decay ; (2) the unusually low energy of the β-particles means that the shape of the spectrum near the upper limit is an extremely sensitive function of the rest mass of the neutrino if the Fermi theory is confirmed ; (3) a theoretical discrepancy1 exists between the half-life2 and the upper energy limit, as recently measured3 ; (4) the mass difference (1H32He3) can be accurately determined.

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References

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  2. Novick, A., Phys. Rev., 72, 972 (1947). Goldblatt, M., et al., Phys. Rev., 72, 973 (1947).

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  3. Watts, R. J., and Williams, D., Phys. Rev., 70, 640 (1946).

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CURRAN, S., ANGUS, J. & COCKCROFT, A. Beta Spectrum of Tritium. Nature 162, 302–303 (1948). https://doi.org/10.1038/162302a0

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