2009/08/14 by Georg Rugel, T. Faestermann, K. Knie +7 · 1 citation
Physics and Astronomy · #Nuclear physics research studies #Astro and Planetary Science #Scientific Research and Discoveries
paper · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.103.072502
openalex publication_date 2009/08/14 · openalex created_date 2016/07/22 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/02
We have made a new determination of the half-life of the radioactive isotope 60Fe using high precision measurements of the number of 60Fe atoms and their activity in a sample containing over 1015 60Fe atoms. Our new value for the half-life of 60Fe is (2.62\ifmmode±\else\textpm\fi0.04)\ifmmode×\else\texttimes\fi106 yr, significantly above the previously reported value of (1.49\ifmmode±\else\textpm\fi0.27)\ifmmode×\else\texttimes\fi106 yr. Our new measurement for the lifetime of 60Fe has significant implications for interpretations of galactic nucleosynthesis, for determinations of formation time scales of solids in the early Solar System, and for the interpretation of live 60Fe measurements from supernova-ejecta deposits on Earth.