MadSci Network: Physics
Query:

Re: Follow up to ID: 1270176523.Ph for Steve Nelson please!

Date: Wed Apr 7 08:36:26 2010
Posted By: Steve Nelson, research physicist
Area of science: Physics
ID: 1270588696.Ph
Message:


OK, you're getting the spins of the neutrino and electron (S) mixed up with 
the angular momentum of the nucleus I.  So if you flip a spin-1 nucleus 
because l=1 you have the same magnitude of I in a different direction, delta 
I=0.  You can't have I(0->0) in this case because there's no angular 
momentum of the nucleus to flip.  You have to think of the nucleus more like 
a spinning sphere than about the internal structure of it when you're 
considering I.  In the case of I=0, I would have to go to 1.  It's the 
change in the magnitude of I for the case where I is not 0 that allows 
delta(I)=0 for l=1.  Keep that delta part in mind. 

Example: 15C beta decaying with a parity change to 15N.  Spin I=1/2 is the 
same, so delta(I)=0.  Fermi decay is allowed if you just flip the direction 
of the spin and the combined spin S of the neutrino and the beta are 0 but 
the total angular momentum is 1.


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