Theoretical half-life for beta decay of 96Zr

Abstract

Highly forbidden β− decay of the 0+ ground state of 96Zr is studied. Partial half-lives to the lowest 6+, 5+ and 4+ states of 96Nb have been computed using the proton–neutron quasiparticle random-phase approximation (pnQRPA) with realistic two-body interactions in a large single-particle space. We find that the decay is dominated by the unique fourth-forbidden transition to the 5+ state with the half-life 2.4 × 1020 y. This half-life is an order of magnitude longer than the one measured for the double beta decay of 96Zr.