Application of a thin double-sided microstrip detector for the registration of beta-delayed charge particles: The He-6 beta decay into the two-body continuum of Li-6

We present a method for the detection of charged particles. emitted following beta decay, that allows to reduce the background due to beta radiation and thus to facilitate separation of the delayed-particle events, The isotopes of interest are implanted into a highly segmented double-sided silicon strip detector, resulting in excellent precision on the overall normalisation. The characteristics of the detector and the particle signatures are discussed, This method can be applied to a variety of systems close to the proton and neutron driplines. it region which the recent availability of post-accelerated radioactive beams has opened up for study. To demonstrate this, we measured the branching ratio of He-6 beta decay into the alpha + d two-body continuum of Li-6. We obtained it Value of(1.7 +/- 04) x 10(-6) for energies x + d above 525 keV. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.status: publishe