Consistent large-scale shell-model analysis of the two-neutrino ββ and single β branchings in ⁴⁸rm Ca and ⁹⁶rm Zr

Two-neutrino double-beta-decay matrix elements $M_{2\nu}$ and single beta-decay branching ratios were calculated for $^{48}$Ca and $^{96}$Zr in the interacting nuclear shell model using large single-particle valence spaces with well-tested two-body Hamiltonians. For $^{48}$Ca the matrix element $M_{2\nu}=0.0511$ is obtained, which is 5.5\% smaller than the previously reported value of 0.0539. For $^{96}$Zr this work reports the first large-scale shell-model calculation of the nuclear matrix element, yielding a value $M_{2\nu}=0.0747$ with extreme single-state dominance. If the scenario where the first $1^+$ state in $^{96}$Nb is at 694.6 keV turns out to be correct, the matrix element is increased to 0.0854. These matrix elements, combined with the available $\beta\beta$-decay half-life data, yield effective values of the weak axial coupling which in turn are used to produce in a consistent way the $\beta$-decay branching ratios of $(7.5\pm2.8)$ % for $^{48}$Ca and $(18.4\pm0.09)$ % for $^{96}$Zr. These are larger than obtained in previous studies, implying that the detection of the $\beta$-decay branches could be possible in dedicated experiments sometime in the (near) future.