The Antisymmetrical Interaction in Beta-Decay Theory

~HE pmcess of beta-disintegration can be considered as a four-particle pmcess, i.e., a process in which four particles are created simultaneously. Thus, e.g. , the process leading to the emission of an electron can be considered as the creation of a proton, a neutrino, Rnd an electron in positive energy states, and of a neutron in a negative state. is known in nickel but it has been assigned' to Ni'~ since such an activity was not observed with slow neutron or deuteron bornbardrnent of nickel. In the present work the 36-hour activity was produced by a fast neutmn reaction on nickel. In addition, two other periods of 2 minutes and 2.6 hours mere observed. The 2.6-hour activity has been de6nitely assigned' to Ni63. Also, alpha-particle bombardments of imn showed the 2-minute and the 36-hoUr Rctlvltlcs. Thc activities arc then to be assigned to Ni'7 and Ni", since the stable isotopes of iron mhich could produce radioactive nickel by the (alpha, n) pmcess are Fe~ and Fe~s. Long bombardments of nickel by slow neutrons produced a weak 36-hour activity mhich was followed over 4 half-lives. This period mas also pmduced by deuteron bombardments of nickel. In both cases the activity was a positron activity of 36 hours half-life, and must be due to the formation of Ni" by Niss (e, gamma) and. Ni" {8 p) reactions The establishment of Ni" to have a half-life of 36&1 hours leads to thc assignment of the 2 minutes and was produced by a Fe" (alpha, n) and a Ni~s (e, 2e} reaction. Chemical separations for nickel werc made thmughout.