| Abstract: |
Beryllium-7 (7Be) is the lightest element that decays only by electron capture. The half-life can measurably change depending on the density of electrons available for capture. This density is aected by chemical bonding, insertion into a lattice, or the application of high pressure. We hope to determine the half-life of singly ionized 7Be where the electron conguration is well known. We will measure this by trapping a 7Be plasma in a Malmberg-Penning trap. To measure any dierences in the half-life, we must contain it for up to one accepted half-life of 53.3 days. This will give a precise half-life which can then be used to compare with other measurements of the half-life. I will discuss the hardware and software needed to properly sequence the creation and characterization of the plasma as well as some preliminary results. |