Precise Q value measurements of $^{112,113}$Ag and $^{115}$Cd with the Canadian Penning Trap for evaluation of potential ultra-low Q value $\beta$-decays
ORAL
Abstract
Ultra low Q-value (ULQ) $\beta$-decays in which the parent decays to an excited state of the daughter with a Q$<$1 keV, are of interest as potential candidates for neutrino mass determination experiments, and to investigate atomic interference effects in $\beta$-decay. To date, the only known ULQ $\beta$-decay is that of $^{115}$In to the $^{115}$Sn(3/2$^{+}$) state with Q = 155(24) eV. A number of other potential ULQ $\beta$-decays have been identified using atomic mass and nuclear energy level data, but more precise masses are required to determine if the potential decays are energetically allowed and $<$1 keV. Penning traps have performed more precise Q value determinations for some of these candidates, including $^{89}$Sr and $^{139}$Ba with LEBIT at NSCL/FRIB, which ruled them out, and $^{135}$Cs with JYFLTRAP at Jyv\"{a}skyla, which showed that it is a potential candidate. Here we present results of Q value measurements for candidates $^{112,113}$Ag and $^{115}$Cd performed with the Canadian Penning Trap at Argonne National Laboratory.
*This work is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Physics, under Award No. DEAC02-06CH11357 (ANL) and Award No. DE-SC0015927. This research used resources of ANL’s ATLAS facility, which is a DOE Office of Science User Facility. Support also provided by NSERC (Canada) under Contract No. SAPPJ-2015-00034.
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