High Precision Measurement of the 19Ne Half-life using real-time digital acquisition
Abstract
The half-life of 19Ne has been measured using a real-time digital multiparametric acquisition system providing an accurate time-stamp and relevant information on the detectors signals for each decay event. An exhaustive offline analysis of the data gave unique access to experimental effects potentially biasing the measurement. After establishing the influence factors impacting the measurement such as after-pulses, pile-up, gain and base line fluctuations, their effects were accurately estimated and the event selection optimized. The resulting half-life, 17.25690.0019(stat)0.0009(syst)~s, is the most precise up to now for 19Ne. It is found in agreement with two recent precise measurements and not consistent with the most recent one [L.J. Broussard et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 112, 212301 (2014)] by 3.0 standard deviations. The full potential of the technique for nuclei with half-lives of a few seconds is discussed.