β-ray strength functions of far-unstable fission product nuclei

Experimental data on the β-strength function, S/sub β/(E), of short-lived, neutron-rich fission products are of importance for various problems in nuclear physics, astrophysics as well as for reactor applications. The present paper reports on experimental techniques to study the β-decay of nuclides far from stability and gives a comparison of recent data obtained in the A = 100 mass region with predictions from different nuclear models. It is demonstrated that current straightforward techniques for extrapolations to unknown nuclei are likely to fail if nuclear structure is not taken into account in a realistic way