XVII.—The Sargent Diagram for the Electron-capture Process, and the Disintegration Energies of Heavy β-emitters

Abstract

SynopsisA Sargent diagram is presented containing 12 plotted points relative to capture-active species in the range of atomic number (Z) from 89 to 98 inclusive. Arguments are adduced to show that the “allowed” line of the diagram is located as theory predicts, and the capture transformations of other heavy capture-active species are discussed with the aid of the diagram. In particular, values are deduced for the energies of capture transformation of 17 species for which 79 ≤ Z ≤ 85, and, taking count of these values, the energies of β-disintegration of 150 species having 76 ≤ Z ≤ 98 are assumed known, and are suitably plotted against neutron number N. Discontinuities are found, for certain values of isotopie number, in the region of N = 126 (and Z = 82). Values of α-disintegration energy are also deduced for certain isotopes of bismuth and lead.