A joint team of researchers from nuclear chemistry and nuclear physics has successfully confirmed a decay process that had long been suspected but never directly observed. The focus of the study is the rare isotope 98Tc.
This isotope exists only in tiny amounts, mixed within the much more abundant 99Tc, a well-known product of nuclear fission. Until now, it was known that 98Tc primarily decays via beta decay into 98Ru, producing characteristic gamma rays that can be detected experimentally.
The new study has now confirmed an alternative decay pathway: electron capture. In this process, 98Tc transforms into 98Mo, again emitting distinct gamma signals that act as a clear experimental signature.
To observe this extremely rare process, the researchers measured a 2.67-gram sample of 99Tc over a period of 17 days using a highly sensitive detector setup at the Institute for Nuclear Physics at the University of Cologne. A crucial factor in the success of the experiment was heavy lead shielding, which significantly reduced background radiation and made the detection possible.
These findings add an important missing piece to our understanding of nuclear structure and may have future applications in areas such as nuclear forensics and geochronology.
The results were also highlighted in an official press release by the University of Cologne, emphasizing the broader scientific relevance of the discovery.
The article can be found here.
