THE DECAY OF Os191 AND Os193

Abstract

The beta- and gamma-ray spectra of Os191 and Os193 have been studied with a magnetic beta-ray spectrometer, scintillation spectrometers, and coincidence circuits. The 14-hour isomer of Os191 decays via a 0.0742-Mev (M3) transition. Gamma rays of energy 0.0418 (100%, E3), 0.0809 (1%, M1 + E2), 0.1287 (100%, M1 + E2), and 0.1858 (0.1%) Mev have been found to be associated with the 14.6 ± 0.3 day decay of Os191 and an extension of the accepted decay scheme proposed. The following 19 transitions have been associated with the 31.5 ± 0.5 hour decay of Os193: 0.0730 (14%), 0.1068 (~1%), 0.1393 (10%), 0.180 (0.3%), 0.196 (0.1%), 0.243 (~0.2%), 0.2485 (0.3%), 0.2514 (0.4%), 0.278 (0.6%), 0.2810 (1.6%), 0.2885 (0.3%), 0.2994 (0.4%), 0.314 (0.3%), 0.3218 (1.7%), 0.3620 (0.6%), 0.3878 (1.6%), 0.4604 (4.1%), 0.4857 (0.3%), and 0.5585 (2.2%). The internal conversion coefficients for all the stronger transitions suggest that they are M1 + E2 in character. The decay energy of Os193 is 1.132 ± 0.005 Mev. Fermi analyses and beta–gamma coincidence experiments have established excited states of Ir193 at 0.073, 0.139, 0.281, 0.362, 0.460, and 0.559 Mev above the ground state. Six otherwise unclassified weak gamma rays can be accommodated if levels at 0.247, 0.315, and 0.613 Mev are included in the decay scheme.The activation cross sections of Os184 and Os190 are (2.2 ± 0.5) × 103and 5.3 ± 2 barns respectively, relative to Seren's value of 1.6 ± 0.4 barns for Os192.