- Letter
Electron-capture decay rate of encapsulated in a fullerene cage
Phys. Rev. C 108, L011301 – Published 5 July, 2023
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.108.L011301
Abstract
The decay rate of electron capture in and Be metal was measured employing a reference method. The half-life () of endohedral (@) was found to be d at room temperature ( K) and d at liquid helium temperature ( K). Furthermore, the of in Be metal was d at room temperature ( K) and d at liquid helium temperature ( K). These values for @ at K are approximately ) smaller than those for in Be metal at K ( K), indicating the difference in the electron wave functions for inside and in and Be metal. The average charge transfer from the electrons of the atom influences such variations in the decay constant () in the environment. The experimental and theoretical investigations revealed that the change in the EC-decay rate of could be largely related to the potential configurations and the environment inside and/or cages. The motion of inside cages was found to be restricted according to temperature.