High precision half-life measurement of $$^{95}\hbox {Ru}$$, $$^{95}\hbox {Tc}$$ and $$^{95m}\hbox {Tc}$$ with $$\gamma $$-spectroscopy

AbstractThe precise knowledge of the half-life of the reaction product is of crucial importance for a nuclear reaction cross section measurement carried out with the activation technique. The cross section of the $$^{92}\hbox {Mo}$$ 92 Mo ($$\alpha $$ α ,n)$$^{95}\hbox {Ru}$$ 95 Ru reaction was measured recently using this experimental approach. The preliminary results indicated that the literature half-life of $$^{95}\hbox {Ru}$$ 95 Ru , derived about half a century ago, is overestimated. Therefore, the half-lives of $$^{95}\hbox {Ru}$$ 95 Ru and its daughter isotope $$^{95}\hbox {Tc}$$ 95 Tc and $$^{95m}\hbox {Tc}$$ 95 m Tc have been measured with high precision using $$\gamma $$ γ -spectroscopy. The results are $$\hbox {t}_{1/2} =1.6033 \pm 0.0044$$ t 1 / 2 = 1.6033 ± 0.0044 h for $$^{95}\hbox {Ru}$$ 95 Ru , $$\hbox {t}_{1/2} =19.258 \pm 0.026$$ t 1 / 2 = 19.258 ± 0.026 h for $$^{95}\hbox {Tc}$$ 95 Tc and $$\hbox {t}_{1/2} =61.96 \pm 0.24$$ t 1 / 2 = 61.96 ± 0.24 d for $$^{95m}\hbox {Tc}$$ 95 m Tc . The precision of the half-life values has been increased, consequently the recently measured $$^{92}\hbox {Mo}$$ 92 Mo ($$\alpha $$ α ,n)$$^{95}\hbox {Ru}$$ 95 Ru activation cross section will become more precise.