MSc Thesis Presentation: Nuclear Structure of ^98 RU Using Beta Decay

MSc Candidate

Sally Valbuena Burbano

Abstract

One of the most important goals in nuclear physics is to develop a sufficient level of understanding of nuclei such that their properties may be predicted accurately, even in regions far from stability. With this aim, it is important to have a thorough understanding of nuclei where they can be well- tested, and stable nuclei offer the best region in which to accomplish this. There are, however, vast gaps in our understanding, as evidenced by the recent debate on the existence of nearly- harmonic spherical vibrators. In a survey performed by Kern et al [1] in 1995, many nuclei were considered as candidates of spherical vibrational motion. However, a recent survey [2] of these potential candidates concluded that very few passed the criteria; of those that did, ^98,100Ru were the most promising. However, in part this may have been due to the lack of detailed spectroscopic data for ^98,100Ru.

In order to remedy this, we have performed a high-statistics measurement of the β decay of ⁹⁸Ru using the newly commissioned β decay Tape Station at iThemba labs located near Cape Town, South Africa. The β decay of ⁹⁸Rh to ⁹⁸Ru was the first measurement to be completed on this new facility. A high-statistics data set was collected for the 98Rh decay, resulting in considerable expansions of the ⁹⁸Ru decay scheme. In this presentation, main concepts of the theoretical model, experimental techniques and details of the analysis of the ⁹⁸Rh decay to date will be given.

Examination Committee 

• Dr. Xiaorong Qin, Chair
• Dr. Paul Garrett, Advisor
• Dr. Carl Svensson
• Dr. Liliana Caballero

[1] J. Kern et al., Nucl. Phys. A593, 21 (1995).
[2] P.E. Garrett, J.L. Wood, and S.W. Yates, Phys. Scripta 93, 063001 (2018)