Test of the nature of the vector interaction in β decay
- Creators
- Gell-Mann, Murray
Abstract
An experiment is proposed to test the theory recently advanced by Feynman and Gell-Mann on the vector interaction in β decay. According to the theory, the Fermi coupling constant is not appreciably altered by renormalization, in agreement with experiment. A further property of the theory is exploited here, that analogous γ and β transitions in light nuclei have proportional matrix elements, as far as the V interaction is concerned. In particular, the V interaction gives rise to "weak magnetism" analogous to the magnetic effects that induce the emission of M1 photons. This "weak magnetism" obeys Gamow-Teller selection rules and interferes with the A coupling, distorting the spectra of high-energy β transitions with ΔJ=1 (no). It is suggested that the β spectra of B12 and N12 be measured accurately and compared. Departure from linearity of the Kurie plot should be noticed in each case; the ratio of the spectra can be calculated with confidence on the basis of the theory, which predicts a 20% effect. The measured γ-ray width of the 15.11-Mev state in C12 is used in the calculation.
Additional Information
©1958 The American Physical Society. Received 3 March 1958. It is a pleasure to acknowledge the value of conversations with F. Boehm, R. P. Feynman, W. A. Fowler, Thos. Lauritsen, B. Stech, and especially A. Wattenberg, who asked a question that sparked this investigation. Work supported by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Inc., and the U. S. Atomic Energy Commission.Attached Files
Published - GELpr58a.pdf
Published - GELpr58acorr.pdf
Erratum - PhysRev.112.2139.4.pdf
Files
Additional details
- Eprint ID
- 4563
- Resolver ID
- CaltechAUTHORS:GELpr58a
- Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
- Atomic Energy Commission
- Created
-
2006-08-29Created from EPrint's datestamp field
- Updated
-
2023-06-01Created from EPrint's last_modified field