Beta Decay ofNe23

Abstract

The disintegration of ${\mathrm{Ne}}^{23}$ was formerly considered to contribute to the few examples of superallowed transitions in negative beta decay. We have reinvestigated this decay, using scintillation techniques for measuring beta and gamma rays. No gamma ray of ∼3 Mev is found; however, a gamma ray of 440±5 kev occurs in 36±4% of the beta decays. For both transitions, to the ground state as well as to the 440-kev level of ${\mathrm{Na}}^{23}$, $log\mathrm{ft}\approx 5.2$. Upper limits for the intensity of higher energy gamma rays show that $log\mathrm{ft}>~5.0$ for possible transitions to other levels in ${\mathrm{Na}}^{23}$.