Performance of a total absorption clover detector for Qβ measurements of neutron-rich nuclei far from the β-stability line

To measure β-decay energies (Qβs) of neutron-rich nuclei far from the β-stability line, we have improved upon the previously described total absorption detector, composed of a clover Ge detector (80 mmϕ×90 mmL×4 crystals) and 4π BGO Compton suppressors. This detector can directly determine the Qβ from the end-point of the measured spectrum. Nuclei of interest such as new isotopes have Qβ values over 4 MeV; therefore, high detection efficiencies are needed. This total absorption detector has a through-hole (alongside its vertical axis) at the center of the four Ge crystals, and the radioactive sources can be placed in this hole to measure the total absorption spectrum. The β- and γ-rays are absorbed by the detector with almost 4π geometry while escaping radiations from the Ge detector can be detected by the 4π BGO Compton suppressors. We also developed a practical analytic procedure based on the folding method, in which response functions of γ- and β-rays were considered with an assumed decay scheme. The systematic uncertainty of the deduced Qβs was evaluated to be ±30 keV using 18 fission products whose Qβ values were precisely measured. With the detector and an on-line mass separator, we have determined the Qβ values of 166Eu and 165Gd for the first time, and have proposed more precise Qβ values for 160–165Eu and 163Gd than previously found. Owing to the especially good energy resolution of the detector, the isomeric state in 163Gd was also successfully observed for the first time through end-point analysis and analysis of the observed γ-rays. This result contributes to the determination of reliable Qβ values for 163Gd and 163Eu.