β-Decay as due to a Neutrino Shower

Abstract

ACCORDING to the Fermi theory of β-decay, the β-curve representing the number of electrons with a given energy lying in the interval of the transition energy of the nucleus, is governed by a statistical factor which may, however, be deduced in a simple manner as shown by Uhlenbeck and Goudsmit. Experimental curves indicate the existence of a marked asymmetry about half the transition energy of the nucleus, while the statistical factor in the Fermi theory is practically symmetrical.