Lifetime of the 21.8-keV state in {sup 98}Tc.

The lifetime of the 21.8-keV (5{sup +}) state in {sup 98}Tc has been measured to be 3.5(9) ns by direct timing methods, using a BaF{sub 2} scintillator and a low-energy photon spectrometer. This state is of interest because it is expected to decay partially by bound internal conversion when the charge state of the technetium ion is 20 or greater.