Determination of the Nuclear Matrix Elements in the 2.31-MevβTransition ofSb124through Measurement of theβ−γ(Circularly Polarized) Angular Correlation

The degree of circular polarization (

P_{c}

) of the 0.603-Mev gamma radiation following the first-forbidden

β

transition from the

3^{-}

ground state of

{Sb}^{124}

to the

2^{+}

first excited state of

{Te}^{124}

was measured. The dependence of

P_{c}

on the angle

θ_{β γ}

between the

β

and

γ

momentum vectors was determined. Representative values of

P_{c} (θ_{β γ})

at some of the angles

θ_{β γ}

measured are

P_{c} = 0.061 \pm 0.071

{\bar{θ}}_{β γ} = 105 °

P_{c} = 0.349 \pm 0.083

{\bar{θ}}_{β γ} = 122 °

P_{c} = 0.604 \pm 0.054

{\bar{θ}}_{β γ} = 152 °

, and

P_{c} = 0.373 \pm 0.071

{\bar{θ}}_{β γ} = 168 °

. These values were obtained at

\bar{W} = 4.6

. The 2.31-Mev

β

transition of

{Sb}^{124}

is known to contain an unusually large contribution from the

\int B_{ij}

matrix element (which describes the component of the lepton field carrying away two units of angular momentum). The measured

β - γ

circular-polarization correlation data, the

β - γ

directional correlation, and spectral shape data were analyzed by use of a digital computer on the basis of the Kotani parameters

Y

x

u

, and

z

. A somewhat generous summary of the final data may be given by

Y = 0.6 \pm 0.3

x = - 0.055 \pm 0.105

u = - 0.060 \pm 0.140

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