The Delayed Coincidence Method in the Study of Radioactivity, with Application to Isomerism in¹⁸¹Ta

Abstract

A short-lived nuclear state occurring during a series of radioactive transitions can be studied by the observation of delayed coincidences between the radiations preceding and following the state in question. The method is limited at present to transition periods lying between about 10-7 and 10-2 seconds. Two distinct experimental procedures are possible, one yielding the differential and the other the integrated decay curve of the short-lived state.