Q-Value Determination of the β⁺ Decay of ⁶⁰Zn

Abstract

Direct measurement of the β⁺ spectrum of ⁶⁰Zn has been carried out with an online isotope separator. Radioactive ⁶⁰Zn was produced by the reaction of ^natNi(α, xn)⁶⁰Zn. Emitted β- and γ-rays were measured with a planar type Ge(Li) and a coaxial type Ge(Li) detectors, respectively. Observed β⁺ spectrum was decomposed by the method of Rehfield. The end-point energies of the analyzed spectra were obtained to be 3.082±0.064 MeV and 2.484±0.059 MeV, respectively. Assuming that the highest component of positrons feeds the 62 keV level in ⁶⁰Cu, the Q-value of the β⁺ decay of ⁶⁰Zn was determined to be 4.166±0.064 MeV.