An application of the method of coincidence counting in a β-particle spectrograph of novel design

Abstract

First-order calculations are given concerning the possibility of designing a β-particle spectrograph in which the correlation between the photoelectrons of the stronger “natural β-ray lines” and the disintegration particles of the “continuous spectrum” might be investigated. It has been shown that, with a coincidence counting circuit of resolving time 10−6 sec., and with a source of suitable strength, this investigation should be possible in the case of any natural β-ray line the absolute intensity of which is sensibly greater than 0.01. A successful investigation of this kind would provide important data for the analysis of a complex continuous spectrum into the “partial spectra” corresponding to different modes of transformation (and might furnish direct information regarding the internal conversion coefficients appropriate to the stronger γ-radiations involved).