β-delayed neutron decay of 104Y, 112Tc, 113Tc and 114Tc: test of half-life predictions for neutron-rich isotopes of refractory elements

Beta-decay gross properties of neutron-rich isotopes 104Y and 112,113,114Tc produced in 25 MeV proton-induced fission of 238U have been measured. Decays of 104Y with a half-life of 180±60 ms and of 114Tc with a half-life of 150±30 ms are reported for the first time. Beta-delayed neutron emission probabilities of 112,113,114Tc are determined as (1.5±0.2)%, (2.1±0.3)% and (1.3±0.4)%, respectively. Comparison of the observed Pn values with a recent theoretical calculation based on deformed quasiparticle random phase approximation (QRPA) shows good overall agreement for Tc isotopes. However, comparison of beta-decay half-lives of neutron-rich isotopes of Y to Rh with the QRPA model and the refined gross theory shows only modest agreement, pointing to inadequate treatment of structure of these very neutron-rich nuclei lying in a region of rapidly changing deformation.