Comparative tests of isospin-symmetry-breaking corrections to superallowed 0(+) -> 0(+) nuclear beta decay

Abstract

We present a test with which to evaluate the calculated isospin-symmetry-breaking corrections to superallowed 0(+) -> 0(+) nuclear beta decay. The test is based on the corrected experimental Ft values being required to satisfy conservation of the vector current (CVC). When applied to six sets of published calculations, the test demonstrates quantitatively that only one set, the one based on the shell model with Saxon-Woods radial wave functions, provides satisfactory agreement with CVC. This test can easily be applied to any sets of calculated correction terms that are produced in future.