Higher forbidden unique β− decay transitions and shell-model interpretation

In the present work, we have predicted the half-lives for the ${\beta }^{-}$ decay for higher forbidden unique transitions in the mass range of nuclei from A = 40-138. For these transitions, the experimental data for half-lives are not available except for a few cases. The calculations for half-lives are performed within the framework of the nuclear shell model (SM). We have used the effective interactions sdpf-mu, gxpf1a, gwbxg, G-matrix, snet, sn100pn, and jj56pnb to perform the SM calculations in different mass regions. A comprehensive discussion has been made between the SM predicted half-lives and the scaled half-lives from proton-neutron quasiparticle random-phase approximation (pnQRPA). The results of the present study will be useful to plan new experiments to measure half-lives for these higher forbidden unique ${\beta }^{-}$ transitions.