An accurate response function for a superconducting solenoid beta spectrometer for electrons up to 5.5 MeV has been found using Monte Carlo calculations and measurements of standard spectra. Experimental conditions affecting the response function have been studied and corrections for source scattering and pileup devised. / An anomalous shift in the electron energy calibration caused by the magnetic field has been discovered and explained. / The beta spectrum of ('32)P, ('90)Y, ('28)Al, ('42)K, ('38)Cl and ('88)Rb have been studied. Systematic uncertainties in endpoint, branch intensity and shape factor measurements have been estimated. / A beta spectra analysis program has been written to calculate endpoints, branch intensities and shape factors in a multi-branch spectrum. / The beta spectra of ('141)La, ('142)La, ('139)Ba, ('141)Ba, ('142)Ba, ('138)Cs and ('139)Cs have been studied. Q(,(beta))-values, intensities for all branches and some shape factors have been measured. / The shape factor of the ('20)F beta spectrum has been measured. The value found for the linear coefficient, a = 0.006 (+OR-) .002 (mc('2))('-1), supports the "weak magnetism" predictions of the Conserved Vector Current theory.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.71961 |
| Date | January 1984 |
| Creators | Hetherington, Donald Wordsworth. |
| Publisher | McGill University |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Coverage | Doctor of Philosophy (Department of Physics.) |
| Rights | All items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated. |
| Relation | alephsysno: 000220036, proquestno: AAINL20820, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest. |
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