New half-life measurements of the most neutron-rich arsenic and germanium isotopes (vol 87, 034315, 2013)

The beta-decay properties of several neutron-rich germanium and arsenic isotopes were measured at the Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The measurements of almost-pure radioactive sources were enabled by the combination of ion-source chemistry and two-stage mass separation. The half-life of Ge-86 (226 +/- 21 ms) was determined for the first time, while those of Ge-84,Ge-85 and As84-87 were remeasured. The results are compared to theoretical predictions of the gross theory of beta decay, the finite-range droplet model, and the new calculations using the energy density functional DF3a with continuum quasiparticle random-phase approximation (CQRPA). We confirm the robustness and good predictive power of the latter model for nuclei near closed shells. These DF3a + CQRPA calculations were used recently to analyze r-process isobaric abundances. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevC.87.034315