Search for anomalous carbon atoms — evidence of violation of the Pauli principle during the period of nucleosynthesis

Abstract

A search for anomalous carbon atoms \({}^{12}\tilde C\) — atoms with three K-shell electrons — is made by γ-activation analysis of boron with the impurity carbon removed radiochemically. A limit on the existence of such atoms was determined: \({}^{12}\tilde C/{}^{12}C < 2.5 \times 10^{ - 12} \). This corresponds to a limit on the lifetime with respect to violation of the Pauli principle by electrons in a carbon atom of τ⩾2×1021 yr.