On the time-modulation of the K-shell electron capture decay of H-like 140Pr58+ ions produced by neutrino-flavour mixing

Abstract

According to recent experimental data at GSI, the rate of the number of daughter ions 140Ce58+, produced by the nuclear K-shell electron capture (EC) decay of the H-like ion 140Pr58+, is modulated in time with a period Td = 7.06(8) sec and an amplitude a(EC) = 0.20(2). We show that this phenomenon can be explained by neutrino-flavour mixing and derive a value for the difference of squared masses Delta m2(21) = m22 - m21 = 2.22(3)x10(-4) eV2.