Beta decay of potassium-54 reveals the role of two-body currents in neutron-rich nuclei

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   First observation of weak magnetism measures a vector-current contribution in free-neutron beta decay, rather than Gamow-Teller decay in neutron-rich nuclei.

   In short

   Combining existing neutron-decay and superallowed-decay data reveals neutron weak magnetism at 5.1 sigma, consistent with the conserved vector current prediction.

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   Correlating nuclear shapes and matrix elements of double-beta decay

   K. Nomura · 2026 · EPJ Web of Conferences · Not summarized yet

   The framework calculates nuclear matrix elements for neutrinoless double-beta decay, a different weak nuclear process from the potassium-54 beta decay studied here.

   Abstract

   A theoretical framework of calculating consistently the low-energy nuclear structure and neutrinoless double-beta (0 νββ ) decay nuclear matrix elements (NMEs) is developed in terms of the interacting boson model (IBM) that is based on the framework of the nuclear energy density functional (EDF). The IBM Hamiltonian describing general quadrupole collective states in even-even nuclei involved in proposed 0 νββ decays is completely determined by means of the self-consistent mean-field calculations with a given EDF. The predicted NMEs are compared with those obtained from other many-body methods and are, in particular, shown to be systematically smaller than the NME values from previous IBM cal…

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   Radiative corrections to double-$\beta$ decay and their impact on experimental analyses

   Jordy de Vries, E. Mereghetti, S. el Morabit et al. · 2026 · Not summarized yet

   This study calculates radiative corrections to double-beta decay, rather than testing two-body weak currents through neutron-rich single-beta decay.

   Abstract

   We present a comprehensive study of the $\mathcal{O}(\alpha)$ radiative corrections to two-neutrino and neutrinoless double-$\beta$ decay within a heavy-nucleus effective field theory. We compute all virtual and real-emission corrections for intermediate nuclear states of arbitrary excitation energy, including new closed-form expressions for the required one-loop integrals with heavy-nucleus propagators. For excitation energies large compared with the lepton energies, the corrections factorize into the tree-level rate times a universal double-weak Sirlin function, which differs substantially from the sum of two single-$\beta$ Sirlin functions used so far in the literature. We discuss the imp…

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   Microscopic study of β-decay and stellar weak rates in neutron-rich scandium isotopes

   Wajeeha Khalid, Jameel-un Nabi, M. Ramzan · 2026 · Turkish Journal of Physics · Not summarized yet

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   Abstract

   This study provides a critical investigation of the β-decay characteristics of neutron-rich scandium isotopes (53-65Sc) using the proton-neutron quasiparticle random phase approximation (pn-QRPA) model. The theoretical framework allows for a microscopic understanding of spin-isospin excitation modes that are essential for examining weak interaction phenomena. Charge-changing Gamow-Teller (GT) strength distributions were calculated and found to agree well with existing experimental results, thereby confirming the model's capacity to accurately represent the nuclear configuration of these isotopes. The computed β-decay half-lives and corresponding log ft values exhibit good agreement with expe…

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   Nuclear matrix elements of double beta decay from beta decay

   Jouni Suhonen · 2004 · Phys.Lett. B607 (2005) 87-95 · cited 43 times · AI summary available

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   Abstract

   The evaluation of the nuclear matrix elements (NME) of the two-neutrino double beta ($2νββ$) decay and neutrinoless double beta ($0νββ$) decay using the proton-neutron quasiparticle random-phase approximation (pnQRPA) is addressed. In particular, the extraction of a proper value of the proton-neutron particle-particle interaction parameter, $g_{\rm pp}$, of this theory is analyzed in detail. Evidence is shown, that it can be misleading to use the experimental half-life of the $2νββ$ decay to extract a value for $g_{\rm pp}$. Rather, arguments are given in favour of using the available data on single beta decay for this purpose.

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   Higher-order corrections to beta decays and nuclear structure

   G. Sargsyan, A. Glick-Magid · 2026 · Not summarized yet

   This chapter develops calculations of higher-order beta-decay corrections and nuclear-structure effects, a broader topic than two-body-current effects in potassium-54.

   Abstract

   Precision measurements of nuclear $\beta$ decay offer a powerful route to tests of physics beyond the Standard Model, but interpreting measurements spectra and correlation observables requires control of subtle nuclear-structure effects. This chapter develops a framework for calculating higher-order corrections--small contributions that can become important at the precision sought in searches for new interactions. After motivating their role in $\beta$-decay observables (with radiative corrections treated in the accompanying chapter), we introduce the relevant kinematics and multipole expansion of the shape factor, identify the subleading contributions, and present the impulse-approximation …

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   The regime of competing nuclear reactions in weak r-process

   Shi-Lun Jin · 2026 · Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society · Not summarized yet

   This study examines competing reaction rates in the weak r-process, a neighbouring nucleosynthesis topic rather than beta-decay strength.

   Abstract

   Sensitivity study of nuclear properties, particularly given that most remain experimentally unmeasured, is critical for understanding nucleosynthesis processes. Because it both reveals the features of the elements evolution and provides the valuable guidance to experiment. In the weak rapid neutron capture process, the (α,n) reactions are predicted to play dominated roles while the neutron capture reactions are suppressed due to insufficient neutron exposure. A number of measurements on the cross sections of (α,n) reactions are performed with various techniques subsequently. Measurements employing short-lived beams are particularly significant for understanding the weak r-process, since the …

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   Unified shell-model study of collective motion in the rare-earth isotopes

   S. Pittel, S.-T. Guo, Y.-X. Yu et al. · 2026 · EPJ Web of Conferences · Not summarized yet

   This study applies shell-model calculations to collective motion and deformation in rare-earth isotopes, not weak decay in neutron-rich nuclei.

   Abstract

   We report shell-model calculations for the even-even nuclei of seven isotopic chains in the rare-earth region, using the angular-momentum-projected particle-number-conserved BCS approximation. The calculations accurately reproduce the properties of low-lying states across the entire region. The analysis reproduces the slow evolution to deformed shapes that emerges in most isotopic chains and the much more rapid transition, akin to a Quantum Phase Transition (QPT), that occurs in others. While the opening up of high-spin orbitals near the subshell closure at Z=64 with increasing neutron number plays a key role in the QPTs, an equally important role is played by coupling of single-particle orb…