Analysis of the $^6$He $β$ decay into the $α+d$ continuum within a three-body model

Abstract

The beta-decay process of the $^6$He halo nucleus into the alpha+d continuum is studied in a three-body model. The $^6$He nucleus is described as an alpha+n+n system in hyperspherical coordinates on a Lagrange mesh. The convergence of the Gamow-Teller matrix element requires the knowledge of wave functions up to about 30 fm and of hypermomentum components up to K=24. The shape and absolute values of the transition probability per time and energy units of a recent experiment can be reproduced very well with an appropriate alpha+d potential. A total transition probability of 1.6E-6 s$^{-1}$ is obtained in agreement with that experiment. Halo effects are shown to be very important because of a strong cancellation between the internal and halo components of the matrix element, as observed in previous studies. The forbidden bound state in the alpha+d potential is found essential to reproduce the order of magnitude of the data. Comments are made on R-matrix fits.