We have performed a careful measurement of the shape of the beta spectrum of He⁶. A detailed study of the phenomenon of electron scattering in our thin lens magnetic spectrometer enabled us to interpret the spectrum shape from the end point at Wₒ = 3.50 ± .02 Mev. down to 1/14 Wₒ = 0.250 Mev. The experimental shape has been compared with the theoretically predicted shape for allowed spectra. The influence of the pseudoscalar interaction on the shape of the He⁶ spectrum has also been considered. From these measurements we have been able to set limits on the Fierz interference in the Gamow-Teller interaction as well as on the magnitude of the pseudoscalar coupling constants. These limits have been interpreted in terms of the relative magnitudes of the axial vector, pseudoscalar, and tensor coupling constants using the two component theory of the neutrino and assuming that the complete beta decay Hamiltonian proposed by Lee and Yang is or is not invariant under time reversal. We have also calculated the effect on the spectrum shape of the production of inner Bremsstrahlung in beta decay and have shown this effect to be at the limit of experimental detectability.

A study of ground state binding energy values listed in the Atomic Mass Evaluation 2012 (AME2012) using an interpretive approach, as opposed to the exploratory methods of previous models, is presented. This model is based on a postulate requiring all protons to pair with available neutrons to form bound alpha clusters as the ground state for anN = Z core upon which excess neutrons are added. For each core, the trend of the binding energy as a function of excess neutrons in the isotopic chain can be fit with a three-term quadratic function. The quadratic parameter reveals a smooth decaying exponential function. By re-envisioning the determination of mass excess, the constant-term fit parameters, representing N = Z nuclei, reveal a near-symmetry around Z = 50. The linear fit parameters exhibit trends which are linear functions of core size. A neutron drip-line prediction is compared against current models. By considering the possibility of an alpha-cluster core, a new ground-state structure grouping scheme is presented; nucleon-nucleon pairing is shown to have a greater role in level filling. This model, referred to as the Alpha-Deuteron-Neutron Model, yields promising first results when considering root-mean-square variances from the AME2012. The beta-decay of the neutron-rich isotope 74Cu has been studied using three highpurity Germanium clover detectors at the Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. A high-resolution mass separator greatly improved the purity of the 74Cu beam by removing isobaric contaminants, thus allowing decay through its isobar chain to the stable 74Ge at the center of the LeRIBSS detector array without any decay chain member dominating. Using coincidence gating techniques, 121 gamma-rays associated with 74Cu were isolated from the collective singles spectrum. Eighty-seven of these were placed in an expanded level scheme, and updated betaeeding level intensities and log(ft) values are presented based on multiple newly-placed excited states up to 6.8 MeV. The progression of simulated Total Absorption gamma-ray Spectroscopy (TAGS) based on known levels and beta feeding values from previous measurements to this evaluation are presented and demonstrate the need for a TAGS measurement of this isotope to gain a more complete understanding of its decay scheme.

The National Nuclear Data Center (NNDC) contains a compilation of information on the beta decays of Gallium isotopes. In the mass range A = 74 to 77, the Germanium daughters lie close to or at the valley of stability leading us to believe the decays would have been well studied. However, closer inspection indicates significant conflict for placement of gamma rays and energy levels between different measurements, especially for upper-lying states. Detailed beta-decay studies for the 74-77Ga isotopes were performed using a high resolution four clover Hyper-Pure Germanium (HPGe) detector system with two beta scintillators in the Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility (HRIBF) at Oak Ridge National Lab (ORNL) to better understand the structure of the corresponding 74-77Ge daughter nuclei. In our experiments, use of a high-resolution mass separator greatly improved the purity of the samples in comparison to previous measurements. Besides that, the efficiency of the detector system we utilized was much higher than used in previous studies. We also established a method to determine statistically significant gamma gamma coincidence relationships to add reliability to the placement of gamma rays to energy levels and avoid experimental biases. From our analysis, we have established comprehensive decay schemes for all four Germanium nuclei in this study. In most cases, we have extended the energy levels to cover more of the energy window available for beta decay. Our proposed 74Ge decay scheme contains 44 energy levels occupying up to 4.36-MeV with the placement of 99 gamma rays. Similarly, 75Ga decay scheme contains 72 gamma rays with 29 energy levels occupying up to 2.75 MeV. The 76Ga decay scheme has 49 excited states with 100 gamma rays occupying up to 4.81 MeV. And, the 77Ge decay scheme has 68 gamma rays and 34 energy levels occupying up to 3.14 MeV. Based on the expanded level schemes, betaeeding intensity and log(ft) value lower limits were calculated and attempts were made to assign the spin-parity of the observed states. The resulting level schemes were then compared with the Nushellx theoretical predictions.

No description available.

<p> Twenty-two energy levels of 105Ru populated in the beta decay of 105Ru have been determined. The internal conversion coefficients of the eighteen strongest transitions were measured using a magnetic spectrometer and were used to obtain their multipole assignments. The energies and intensities of seventy gamma rays were measured using germanium detectors and scintillation counters. Gamma-gamma and beta-gamma coincidence measurements carried out with magnetic spectrometers, NaI(Tl) and Ge(Li) detectors were used with these energy measurements to establish a decay scheme. An interpretation of the decay scheme in the light of current nuclear models was attempted.</p> / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The beta-decay interaction contains two terms which consist of invariant products of two scalars and two tensors respectively. The relative absolute magnitude of these two terms is fairly well established but there has been some controversy over their relative sign. In this thesis the form of the interaction is investigated by means of an analysis of the second-forbidden decay spectrum of Cs137 and it is concluded that the relative sign of the scalar and tensor terms is negative. / Thesis / Master of Science (MS)

SNO+ is a liquid scintillator experiment whose physics goals include measurements of solar neutrinos, reactor anti-neutrinos, geo neutrinos and double beta decay. During an initial water phase, it will also search for invisible modes of nucleon decay. This thesis investigates methods of improving the detector's sensitivity to the baryon and lepton violating processes of neutrinoless double beta decay and invisible nucleon decay. It does this through an improved scintillator model, allowing the sensitivity of the detector with different loading techniques to be evaluated, through a new background rejection technique, capable of increasing the active volume of the detector, and with the development of improved position fitters, achieving resolutions of approximately 10 cm in scintillator and 25 cm in water. The sensitivity of SNO+ to invisible modes of nucleon decay is explored, predicting, after one month of data, a limit of t > 1.38 x 10³⁰ years on the decay of neutrons and of t > 1.57 x 10³⁰ years on the decay of protons.

SuperNEMO est un projet de détecteur de nouvelle génération pour la recherche de la décroissance double bêta sans émission de neutrinos. La technique expérimental déployée est dans la lignée du son prédécesseur NEMO3, combinant un trajectographe et un calorimètre, afin d’identifier non seulement les électrons des décroissances double bêta, mais également pour mesurer l’ensemble des composantes de bruit de fond du détecteur. Le projet vise ainsi une sensibilité de 10^26 ans sur la période du 82Se, ce qui permettrait de sonder une masse effective du neutrino de 50 meV. Pour atteindre cette sensibilité, le projet prévoit notamment de mettre en place un calorimètre composé d’un millier de compteur à scintillation de basse radioactivité, dont la résolution en énergie serait meilleure que 8 % FWHM pour des électrons de 1 MeV.Ce travail de thèse apporte une contribution importante dans les travaux de Recherche et Développements pour améliorer les performances des scintillateurs et photomultiplicateurs, et pour réduire leur radioactivité, avec notamment la conception d’un nouveau photomultiplicateur en collaboration avec Photonis. / SuperNEMO is a next generation double beta decay experiment which will extend the successful “tracko-calo” technique employed in NEMO 3. The main characteristic of this type of detector is to identify not only double beta decays, but also to mesure its own background components. The projet aims to reach a sensitivity up to 1026 years on the half-life of 82Se. One of the main challenge of the Research and Development is to achieve an unprecedented energy resolution for the electron calorimeter, better than 8 % FWHM at 1 MeV.This thesis contributes to improve scintillators and photomultiplicators performances and reduce their radioactivity, including in particular the development of a new photomultiplier in collaboration with Photonis.

This Master thesis aims at designing, assembling and operating a prototypal luminescentbolometer containing a candidate with high Q-value (116Cd and 100Mo)for the study of the neutrinoless double- decay. The crystal is scintillating (with 116CdWO4 and Li2MoO4 compounds). The prototype is designed according to a simple thermal model and cooled down to 18 mK. Data analysis of the 116CdWO4 crystal determines the energy resolution (intrinsicand in the ROI) and the alpha/beta discrimination power. It includes a full interpretation of the background energy spectrum in terms of environmental radioactivity and an evaluation of the crystal radiopurity by the detection of internal contamination of the detector. An evaluation of the potential of a future experiment based on the 116CdWO4developed prototype is performed, ascertaining the feasibility of large scale experiments to search for neutrinoless double beta decay. The use of the thermal model of the detector response to interpret its bolometric behaviour and the study of future optimizations of the detector performance concludes this project.

[pt] Nesta dissertação, estudamos do ponto de vista fenomenológico, os efeitos de neutrinos estéreis para os observáveis de massas de neutrinos baseado nos dados do experimento LSND e nos resultados divulgados recentemente pela colaboração MiniBooNE. Consideramos observáveis de massa as seguintes quantidades: o parâmetro de massa cinemática cuja medida é realizada em experimentos com o decaimento beta do tritium tendo seu valor atual fornecido pelos experimentos Mainz e Troitsk; a massa efetiva de Majorana, que é uma quantidade que pode ser obtida em experimentos com o duplo decaimento beta sem neutrinos; finalmente, a soma de massas dos neutrinos, a qual é vinculada por dados cosmológicos. Nossa análise é realizada considerando os possíveis ordenamentos de massas para o caso em que temos dois neutrinos estéreis além dos três neutrinos ativos usuais, cuja adição é necessária para explicar os resultados de LSND e MiniBooNE ao mesmo tempo. Neste cenário, temos oito possíveis ordenamentos de massas, os quais dividimos em três grupos. No primeiro grupo, temos que os dois neutrinos estéreis são mais pesados que os três neutrinos ativos. No segundo grupo, os dois neutrinos estéreis são mais leves que os três neutrinos ativos. Cada um destes dois grupos tem possibilidades que dependem do ordenamento de massas dos neutrinos ativos que pode ser normal ou invertido. No terceiro e último grupo temos que um neutrino estéril é mais leve e o outro mais pesado que os três neutrinos ativos. Neste grupo, existem quatro possibilidades de ordenamento associada ao posicionamento dos neutrinos estéreis e ao ordenamento dos neutrinos do setor ativo. Investigamos os observáveis de massas em cada um destes cenários. / [en] In this dissertation we study, from the phenomenological point of view, the effects of sterile neutrinos for the observables related to neutrino masses based on the data of the LSND experiment and on the results releasedrecently by the MiniBooNE collaboration. We consider the following mass related obsevables: the kinematic mass parameter which is obtained in tritium beta decay experiments whose current value is provided by Mainzand Troitsk experiments; the Majorana effective mass, it is a quantity that can be obtained in neutrinoless double beta decay experiments. In additionto these quantities, we also consider the sum of neutrinos masses, which isconstrained by cosmological data. Our analysis is performed by considering the possible mass orderings for the cases where we have two sterile neutrinosbeyond the three standard active neutrinos, whose addition is necessary to explain the results of LSND andMiniBooNE simultaneously. In this scenariot here are eight possible mass orderings, which are divided into three groups.In the first group we have two sterile neutrinos which are heavier thanthe three active neutrinos. In the second group the two sterile neutrinosare lighter than the three active neutrinos. Each of these two groups canbe further divided into 2 subgroups depending on the mass ordering ofthe active neutrinos that can be normal or inverted. In the third and lastgroup we have one sterile neutrino lighter and the other heavier than thethree active neutrinos. In this group there are four possibilities of ordering depending on the positioning of the sterile neutrinos with respect to theactive ones and on the mass ordering of the active states. We investigate systematically the masses observable in each of these scenarios.