An Experimental Study of Beta-Decay in the Light Elements

Citation

Wong, Calvin (1953) An Experimental Study of Beta-Decay in the Light Elements. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/6B34-BS65. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-05092003-170807

Abstract

A magnetically compensated stilbene scintillation counter has been developed as a detector for use with a beta-ray lens spectrometer. Reasons for developing such a counter are discussed; design considerations and performance characteristics are given. The performance of the scintillation counter-lens spectrometer system in the measurement of beta spectra has been investigated. Using the beta spectra of Na22 and P32, the effects of scattering, source thickness, and source backing upon spectrum shape and end-point have been studied. The scintillation counter-lens spectrometer system has been employed in studying radioactivity in the light elements. Specifically, the beta-decays of C11, F17, and F20 have been investigated. In the beta-decay of F20, the energy discrimination ability of scintillation counters has been employed in investigating the possible existence of a weak high energy beta transition in the presence of a large amount of scattered electrons and room background.

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