Isolating β-Energy Spectra for Individual Transitions in Complex β Decays

A new program to study individual beta-decay transitions in complex beta decaying nuclei has begun. The beta decay of nuclei is usually studied by identifying individual gamma rays, and more recently has been studied using total absorption spectroscopy identifying improved beta-feeding patterns that affect reactor physics. But the actual beta energy distributions of individual components in complex decays remains elusive. The new beta-Spectrum Module (betaSM) in coordination with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory's Modular Total Absorption Spectrometer (MTAS) has the potential to identify the beta energy spectra for individual transitions allowing insight into nuclear structure and reactor physics including precision reactor antineutrino energy spectra predictions. Predicting beta energy spectral shapes is challenging is very challenging and this work can help understand the nuclear matrix elements involved in beta decay. This talk will focus on the impacts and uses of this novel technique while giving a brief introduction to the goals of the project.