The half-life of Au-198: High-precision measurement shows no temperature dependence

摘要

We have measured the half-life of the beta-decay of Au-198 in a metallic environment, both at low temperature (19 K), and also at room temperature. We find the half-lives at both temperatures to be the same within 0.04%, a finding,that contradicts a recent report of a 3.6 +/- 1.0% difference in the Au-198 half-life when measured at essentially the same two temperatures. Our results for the half-life, 2.6949 +/- 0.0009 d at room temperature and 2.6953 +/- 0.0008 d at 19 K, also agree well with previous precision room temperature measurements.