Search for Superscreening Effects in a Superconductor

P. Ujić, F. de Oliveira Santos, M. Lewitowicz, N. L. Achouri, M. Assié, B. Bastin, C. Borcea, R. Borcea, A. Buta, A. Coc, G. de France, O. Kamalou, J. Kiener, A. Lepailleur, V. Meot, A. Pautrat, M. G. Saint Laurent, O. Sorlin, M. Stanoiu, and V. Tatischeff
Phys. Rev. Lett. 110, 032501 – Published 14 January 2013

Abstract

The decay of O19(β) and Ne19(β+) implanted in niobium in its superconducting and metallic phases was measured using purified radioactive beams produced by the SPIRAL GANIL facility. Half-lives and branching ratios measured in the two phases are consistent within a 1σ error bar. This measurement casts strong doubts on the predicted strong electron screening in a superconductor, the so-called superscreening. The measured difference in screening potential energy is 110(90) eV for Ne19 and 400(320) eV for O19. Precise determinations of the half-lives were obtained for O19, 26.476(9) s, and for Ne19, 17.254(5) s.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 24 October 2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.110.032501

© 2013 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

P. Ujić1,2, F. de Oliveira Santos1, M. Lewitowicz1, N. L. Achouri3, M. Assié4, B. Bastin1, C. Borcea5, R. Borcea5, A. Buta5, A. Coc6, G. de France1, O. Kamalou1, J. Kiener6, A. Lepailleur1, V. Meot7, A. Pautrat8, M. G. Saint Laurent1, O. Sorlin1, M. Stanoiu5, and V. Tatischeff6

  • 1GANIL CEA/DSM-CNRS/IN2P3, Boulevard H. Becquerel, F-14076 Caen, France
  • 2Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
  • 3LPC/ENSICAEN, Boulevard du Maréchal Juin, 14050 Caen Cedex, France
  • 4Institut de Physique Nucléaire Université Paris-Sud-11-CNRS/IN2P3, 91406 Orsay, France
  • 5Horia Hulubei National Institute for Physics and Nuclear Engineering, PO Box MG-6, 76900 Bucharest, Romania
  • 6CSNSM, Université Paris-Sud-11 CNRS/IN2P3, 91405 Orsay-Campus, France
  • 7CEA/DAM Ile-de-France, BP12, F-91680 Bruyères-le-Châtel, France
  • 8CRISMAT/ENSICAEN et Université de Caen, CNRS UMR 6508, 14050 Caen, France

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 110, Iss. 3 — 18 January 2013

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review Letters

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×