Re: OT: beta decay in Thallium

On 15/11/2024 04:51, Jan Panteltje wrote:

Long-sought measurement of exotic beta decay in thallium helps extract
the timescale of the Sun's birth:
  https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241114125851.htm
Source:
   GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung GmbH
Summary:
  How long did it take our Sun to form in its stellar nursery?
  Scientists are now closer to an answer.
  They succeeded in the measurement of the bound-state beta decay of
  fully-ionized thallium ions at the Experimental Storage Ring (ESR) of GSI/FAIR.
  This measurement has profound effects on the production of radioactive lead in
  asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars and can be used to help determine the Sun's
  formation time.

That one is wonderful! Thanks Jan!
A nuclear reaction where the energy difference is *so* tiny that fully ionising the element inside a star tips the balance between normal decay of neutral Pb205 decaying into Tl205 and Pb205 being formed from Tl205.
--
Martin Brown