The internal conversion of γ-rays

Abstract

1. Introduction —Theories of the internal conversion of γ-rays developed by Hulme and by Taylor and Mott have met with success in explaining the observed values of the conversion coefficient in the range of wave-lengths of the RaC spectrum. The observed values for RaC lie approximately on two curves of which the one corresponding to lower values of the conversion coefficient is obtained theoretically if it be assumed that the nucleus radiates the field of an electric dipole, while the other is obtained on the assumption that the radiated field is that of an electric quadripole. Neither theory, however, is in agreement with the observations on softer γ-rays, such as those from RaB, where the experimental results are about twice as large as the values predicted by the quadripole theory, and, of course, many times larger than those predicted by the dipole theory.