Charge distribution studies in the fast-neutron-induced fission of <Superscript>232</Superscript>Th, <Superscript>238</Superscript>U, <Superscript>240</Superscript>Pu and <Superscript>244</Superscript>Cm

Charge distribution studies for heavy-mass fission products were carried out in the fast-neutron-induced fission of ²³²Th, ²³⁸U, ²⁴⁰Pu and ²⁴⁴Cm using radiochemical and gamma-ray spectrometric techniques. The width parameter( σ_Z/σ_A), the most probable charge/mass ( Z _P/A _P), the charge polarization (ΔZ) and the slope of charge polarization [ δ(ΔZ)/δA ^′] as a function of the fragment mass (A ^′) were deduced. The average charge dispersion parameter ( 〈σ_Z〉) and proton odd-even effect ( δ_p) were also obtained for these fissioning systems. The 〈σ_Z〉 and δ_p values in the fissioning systems ²⁴¹Pu ^* and ²⁴⁵Cm ^* were determined for the first time. The δ(ΔZ)/δA ^′ value is also determined for the first time in the fissioning systems ²³⁹U ^* , ²⁴¹Pu ^* and ²⁴⁵Cm ^* . These data along with the literature data for even-Z fissioning systems such as ²³⁰Th ^* , ²³²Th ^* , ²³³U ^* , ²³⁴U ^* , ²³⁶U ^* , ²³⁸U ^* , ²³⁹Pu ^* , ²⁴⁰Pu*, ²⁴²Pu ^* , ²⁴⁶Cm ^* , ²⁵⁰Cf ^* and ²⁵²Cf(SF) are discussed in terms of nuclear structure effect and dynamics of descent from the saddle to the scission point. The role of the excitation energy in low-energy fission is also discussed. Received: 26 July 2002 / Accepted: 3 December 2002 / Published online: 3 April 2003 RID="a" ID="a"Present address: Emeritus Scientist (CSIR) Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Nuclear Recycle Group, WIP Building, Trombay, Mumbai-400085, India; e-mail: rhiyer@magnum. barc.ernet.in Communicated by D. Schwalm     

<Superscript>4</Superscript>He<Superscript>3</Superscript>H<Superscript>2</Superscript>H three-body model of the <Superscript>9</Superscript>Be nucleus

Within the framework of the single-channel approximation, an {αtd} model of the ⁹ Be nucleus is presented. A comparative analysis of the t ⁶ Li wave functions describing relative motion of bound states constructed in {ααn} and {αtd} cluster representations is carried out on the example of calculations of the ⁹ Be(γ,t₀)⁶ Li process characteristics. __________ Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 1, pp. 85–89, January, 2008.     

Ternary fission fragmentation of <Superscript>252</Superscript>Cf for all possible third fragments

The ternary fragmentation of ²⁵²Cf for all possible third fragments has been investigated using the recently proposed three-cluster model within a spherical approximation and satisfying the condition A ₁ 3 \geq A ₂ 3 \geq A ₃ . The most probable ternary configurations in the fission of ²⁵²Cf accompanied with all possible third fragment mass numbers from A ₃ = 1 to 84 are predicted and their independent and overall relative yields are calculated. The calculations of the properly charge minimized potential energy surface (PES) and yield reveal that even-mass third fragments are more favored than odd ones. In the most probable configuration having the minimum in the potential energy and the maximum in yield, among the three fragments, at least one (or two) of the fragment(s) associates itself with the neutron (or proton) closed shell and in some cases even with the doubly closed shell. The calculated relative yields imply that next to ¹⁴C (the heaviest third fragment observed in the spontaneous ternary fission of ²⁵²Cf , ^{34, 36, 38}Si , ^{46, 48}Ar , and ^{48, 50}Ca are presenting themselves as the most favoured cases to be observed as the third particle in the spontaneous ternary fission of ²⁵²Cf .     

Improved (1s)<Superscript>2</Superscript> variational model for helium

The ground-state energy of neutral helium is estimated variationally with a trial wavefunction of the form ϕ≈e ^−γ(rA/a _o)ⁿe^−γ(rB/a _o)ⁿ. This model represents a modification of traditional textbook examinations of this problem via inclusion of the power “n” as a second nonlinear variational parameter in addition to the usual effective nuclear charge γ and leads to an upper-limit on the ground state energy of −2.86107 E _h (E _h =1 hartree) in comparison with the traditional (n=1) result of −2.84766 E _h . This result represents a reduction of the percentage overestimate from the true ground-state energy (−2.90373 E _h ) of from 1.93 to 1.47. In comparison with the maximum accuracy obtainable from an uncorrelated trial wavefunction, −2.86168 E _h , the present trial wavefunction reduces the percentage overestimate from 0.49 (n=1) to 0.021. The optimum values of (n, γ) are determined to be ≈(0.897, 1.825).     

New experimental studies on the quaternary fission of <Superscript>233, 235</Superscript>U(n<Subscript>th</Subscript>, f ) and <Superscript>252</Superscript>Cf (sf )

Experiments have been performed for studying quaternary fission (QF) in spontaneous fission of ²⁵²Cf, on the one hand, and for the neutron-induced fission reactions ^{233, 235}U(n_th, f ), on the other hand. In this higher-multiplicity fission mode, by definition, four charged products appear in the final state. In other words, as a generalization of the ternary-fission process, not only one but two light charged particles (LCPs) are accompanying the splitting of an actinide nucleus into the customary pair of fission fragments. In the two sets of measurements, which have used quite different approaches, the yields of several QF reactions with α-particles and tritons as the LCPs have been determined and the corresponding kinetic-energy distributions of the α-particles measured. The QF process can appear in two basically different ways: i) the simultaneous creation of two LCPs in the act of fission (“true” QF) and ii) via a fast sequential decay of a single but particle-unstable LCP in common ternary fission (“pseudo” QF). Experimentally the two varieties of QF have been distinguished by exploiting the different patterns of angular correlations between the two outgoing LCPs. The experiments described in the present paper are the first to demonstrate that both types of reactions, true and pseudo QF, occur with quite comparable probabilities. As a new result also, the kinetic-energy distributions related to the two processes have been shown to be significantly different. For all QF reactions which could be explored, the yields for ²⁵²Cf(sf) were found to be roughly by an order of magnitude larger than the yields found in the ²³³U(n_th, f ) and ²³⁵U(n_th, f ) reactions. An interesting by-product has been the measurement of yields of excited LCPs which allows to deduce nuclear temperatures at scission by comparison to the respective yields in the ground state.     

Fragmentation of sputtered Si<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis></Subscript>O<Stack><Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">m</Emphasis></Subscript><Superscript>+</Superscript></Stack> clusters: Release kinetic and dissociation energies

The spectra of kinetic energies of positive Si _n O _m ⁺ cluster ions (n = 2–5, m = 2–7) have been measured using a double focusing ion microanalyzer with reverse geometry at instants 10⁻⁵ to 10⁻⁴ s after emission. The dissociation energies have been determined within the evaporative ensemble model and the theory of unimolecular decay reactions. The results obtained are compared with the binding energies of neutral Si _n O _m clusters.     

Kinetic energies of cluster fragments in ternary fission of <Superscript>252</Superscript> Cf

The kinetic energy distribution and potential energies of fragments from the collinear cluster tripartition (CCT), the “true” ternary fission of ²⁵²Cf, have been calculated. It is assumed that the breakup of the nucleus into three fragments happens sequentially in two steps from a hyper-deformed shape. In the first step a first neck rupture occurs of the parent radioactive nucleus, forming two fragments (one of them is usually ¹³²Sn) and, in the second step, one of the two fragments breaks into two other fragments, resulting finally in three fragments (the experiment is based on a binary coincidence where a missing mass is determined). We show the result for the principal combination of the three spherical fragments (semi-magic isotopes of Sn, Ca, Ni) observed recently experimentally. These isotopes are clusters with high Q -values, which produce the highest yields in the ternary fission bump. It is shown that the kinetic energies of the middle fragments have very low values, making their experimental detection quite difficult. This fact explains why the direct detection of true ternary fission with three fragments heavier than A > 40 has escaped experimental observation.     

Saturation of Coulomb sum rules in the <Superscript>6</Superscript>Li case

The Coulomb sums S _L(q) of the ⁶Li nucleus have been obtained from electron scattering measurements at 3-momentum transfers q = 1.125–1.625 fm⁻¹. It is found that at q > 1.35 fm⁻¹ the Coulomb sum of the nucleus becomes saturated: S _L(q) = 1 .     

Direct observation of intracluster reactions induced in (CF<Subscript>3</Subscript>I)<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis></Subscript> clusters by femtosecond ultraviolet radiation

Intracluster reactions that are induced in (CF₃I) _n clusters by femtosecond ultraviolet radiation, including the reaction of the formation of the I₂⁺ molecular ion, have been directly observed. It has been shown that there are two channels of the formation of I₂⁺ ions with the characteristic times τ₁ ≈ 1 ps and τ₂ ≈ 7 ps. A model of these reactions has been proposed that is in good agreement with the experimental data.     

Physical and Spectral Investigations of Cu<Superscript>2+</Superscript>-Doped Alkali Zinc Borate Glasses

Physical and spectral studies on 20ZnO + xLi₂O + (30-x)Na₂O + 50B₂O₃ (5 ≤ x ≥ 25) doped with 0.1 mol% of paramagnetic CuO impurity are carried out. Powder X-ray diffraction patterns of the glass samples confirm the amorphous nature. The physical parameters of all the glasses were also evaluated with respect to the composition. The electron paramagnetic resonance spectra of all these glasses exhibit resonance signals that are characteristic of Cu²⁺ ions. The optical absorption spectra also confirm the Cu²⁺ ion in tetragonally elongated octahedral site. Various crystal field, spin-Hamiltonian and bonding parameters are evaluated. It is observed that the mixed alkali effect is significant.     

The ground state and doubly-excited <Superscript>1,3</Superscript>P° states of hot-dense plasma-embedded Li<Superscript>+</Superscript> ions

We have investigated the ground state and the doubly excited ^1,3P^○ resonance states of plasma-embedded Li⁺ ion. The plasma effect is taken care of by using a screened Coulomb potential obtained from the Debye model. A correlated wave function has been used to represent the correlation effect between the charged particles. The ground state of Li⁺ in plasmas for different screening parameters has been estimated in the framework of Rayleigh-Ritz variational principle. In addition, a total of 18 resonances (9 each for ¹P^○ and ³P^○ states) below the n=2 Li⁺ thresholds has been estimated by calculating the density of states using the stabilization method. For each spin state, this includes four members in the 2snp₊ (2≤n ≤5) series, three members in the 2snp_- (3≤n ≤5) series, and two members in the 2pnd (n=3, 4) series. The resonance energies and widths for various Debye parameters ranging from infinity to a small value for these ^1,3P^○ resonance states along with the ground state energies of Li⁺ and the Li²⁺ (1S), Li²⁺ (2S) threshold energies are reported. Furthermore, the wavelengths for the photo-absorption of lithium ion from its ground state to such ¹P^○ resonance states for different Debye lengths are also reported.     

X-ray spectra induced by <Superscript>129</Superscript>Xe<Superscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">q</Emphasis>+</Superscript> impacting the metal surface

Using the slow highly charged ions ¹²⁹Xe ^q+ (q = 25, 26, 27; initial kinetic T ₀⩽4.65 keV/a.u.) to impact Au surface, the Au atomic Mα characteristic X-ray spectrum is induced. The result shows that as long as the charge state of projectile is high enough, the heavy atomic characteristic X-ray can be effectively excited even though the incident beam is very weak (nA magnitude), and the X-ray yield per ion is in the order of 10⁻⁸ and increases with the kinetic energy and potential energy of projectile. By measuring the Au Mα-X-ray spectra, Au atomic N-level lifetime is estimated at about 1.33×10⁻¹⁸ s based on Heisenberg uncertainty relation. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 10574132, 10274088 and 10405025), the Talent Introduction Project of Xianyang Normal University (Grant No. 05XSYK103) and the Education Commission Foundation of Shaanxi Province (Grant No. 04JK300)     

Study of EPR parameters and defect structure for two tetragonal impurity centers in MgO:Cr<Superscript>3+</Superscript> and MgO:Mn<Superscript>4+</Superscript> crystals

The electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) parameters (g-factors g _‖, g _⊥ and zero-field splitting D) of two tetragonal 3d³ impurity centers M_3d-V_Mg and M_3d-Li⁺ (where M_3d = Cr³⁺ or Mn⁴⁺, V_Mg is the Mg²⁺ vacancy) in M_3d-doped MgO crystals are calculated from the high-order perturbation formulas including both the crystal-field (CF) and the charge-transfer (CT) mechanisms for 3d³ ions in the tetragonal symmetry. The calculated results are in reasonable agreement with the experimental values. From the calculations, it can be found that the relative importance of the CT mechanism for EPR parameters increases with increasing valence state of the 3d³ ion. So, for the high-valence 3d ⁿ ions in crystals, a reasonable explanation of EPR parameters should take into account both CF and CT mechanisms. The defect structures (characterized by the displacement ΔR of O²⁻ in the intervening M_3d and V_Mg or Li⁺ at the Mg²⁺ site) for these tetragonal impurity centers are obtained from the calculations. The results are consistent with the expectations based on the electrostatic interactions.     

Neutron-neutron angular correlations in spontaneous fission of <Superscript>252</Superscript>Cf

An experiment has been carried out to study neutron-neutron angular correlations in spontaneous fission of ²⁵²Cf. Angular dependences of the number of neutron-neutron coincidences obtained in the experiment were compared with the results of the Monte Carlo calculations for various neutron detection thresholds in the range 425–1600 keV. It was inferred that 10–11% of the total number of prompt neutrons from ²⁵²Cf (s.f.) in the laboratory system were emitted isotropically and may probably be interpreted as neutrons directly associated with the instant of scission of the nucleus. The analysis allowed their energy distribution to be determined as well. A similar method was also used to describe the angular correlation of prompt neutrons that accompanied the reaction ²³⁵U(n _th ,f).     

The pp→K<Superscript>+</Superscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">Σ</Emphasis><Superscript>+</Superscript>n cross-section from missing-mass spectra

We utilize existing inclusive data on K⁺-meson momentum spectra of the reaction pp→K ⁺ X at T _p = 2.3-2.85GeV to deduce total cross-sections for pp→K ⁺ Σ ⁺ n. The method used to extract those cross-sections is explained and discussed in detail. Our result for T _p = 2.85GeV is consistent with the data point from a direct measurement at the same beam energy. The cross-section obtained for T _p = 2.3GeV is with 13.7±2.3μb considerably smaller than the value found in a recent experiment by the COSY-11 Collaboration at a somewhat lower beam energy, indicating that the pp→K ⁺ Σ ⁺ n reaction cross-section could exhibit a rather unusual energy dependence.     

Theoretical study of charge-exchange and excitation processes in collisions of He<Superscript>+</Superscript> ions with C<Superscript>5+</Superscript>, N<Superscript>6+</Superscript>, and O<Superscript>7+</Superscript> hydrogen-like ions

Data on the cross sections for single-electron charge exchange and excitation in collisions of He⁺ ions with C⁵⁺, N⁶⁺, and O⁷⁺ ions in the He⁺ ion energy range of 0.2–3.0 MeV are obtained for the first time. The cross sections for the single-electron charge transfer into the singlet and triplet 1snl states of C⁴⁺, N⁵⁺, and O⁶⁺ (2≤n≤5) ions and for the 1s → 2p _{0, ±1} electronic excitation of He⁺(1s) ions are calculated. The calculations were performed by solving close-coupling equations on the basis of ten two-electron quasi-molecular states.     

Spectra and mean energies of prompt neutrons from <Superscript>238</Superscript>U fission induced by primary neutrons of energy in the region <Emphasis Type="Italic">E</Emphasis><Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis></Subscript><20 MeV

The time-of-flight technique is used to measure the ratios R(E, E _n )=N(E, E _n )/N_Cf(E) of the normalized (to unity) spectra N(E, E _n ) of neutrons accompanying the neutron-induced fission of ²³⁸U at primary-neutron energies of E _n =6.0 and 7.0 MeV to the spectrum N_Cf(E) neutrons from the spontaneous fission of ²⁵²Cf. These experimental data and the results of their analysis are discussed together with data that were previously obtained for the neutron-induced fission of ²³⁸U at the primary energies of E _n =2.9, 5.0, 13.2, 14.7, 16.0, and 17.7 MeV.     

Nuclear deformation and the two-neutrino double- β decay in <Superscript>124, 126</Superscript>Xe , <Superscript>128, 130</Superscript>Te , <Superscript>130, 132</Superscript>Ba and <Superscript>150</Superscript>Nd isotopes

The two-neutrino double-beta decay of ^{124, 126}Xe , ^{128, 130}Te , ^{130, 132}Ba and ¹⁵⁰Nd isotopes is studied in the Projected Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov (PHFB) model. Theoretical 2ν β^-β^- half-lives of ^{128, 130}Te , and ¹⁵⁰Nd isotopes, and 2ν β⁺β⁺ , 2ν β⁺ EC and 2ν ECEC for ^{124, 126}Xe and ^{130, 132}Ba nuclei are presented. Calculated quadrupolar transition probabilities B(E2 : 0⁺ → 2⁺) , static quadrupole moments and g -factors in the parent and daughter nuclei reproduce the experimental information, validating the reliability of the model wave functions. The anticorrelation between nuclear deformation and the nuclear transition matrix element M _2ν is confirmed.     

K-matrix analysis of the (IJ<Superscript>PC</Superscript> = 00<Superscript>+ +</Superscript>)-wave in the mass region below 1900 MeV

We present the results of the current analysis of the partial wave IJ ^PC = 00^{+ +} based on the available data for meson spectra ( ππ, KˉK,ηη,η,ππππ). In the framework of the K-matrix approach, the analytical amplitude has been reconstructed in the mass region 280 MeV < < 1900 MeV. The following scalar-isoscalar states are seen: comparatively narrow resonances f ₀(980), f ₀(1300), f ₀(1500), f ₀(1750) and the broad state f₀(1200-1600). The positions of the amplitude poles (masses and total widths of the resonances) are determined as well as pole residues (partial widths to meson channels ππ, KˉK,ηη,η,ππππ). The fitted amplitude gives us the positions of the K-matrix poles (bare states) and the values of bare-state couplings to meson channels thus allowing the quark-antiquark nonet classification of bare states. On the basis of the obtained partial widths to the channels ππ, KˉK,ηη,η, we estimate the quark/gluonium content of f ₀(980), f ₀(1300), f ₀(1500), f ₀(1750), f₀(1200-1600). For f ₀(980), f ₀(1300), f ₀(1500) and f ₀(1750), their partial widths testify the qˉq origin of these mesons though being unable to provide precise evaluation of the possible admixture of the gluonium component in these resonances. The ratios of the decay coupling constants for the f₀(1200-1600) support the idea about the gluonium nature of this broad state. Received: 14 May 2002 / Accepted: 20 August 2002 / Published online: 11 February 2003 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: anisovic@thd.pnpi.spb.ru Communicated by A. Sch?fer     

Several features of the Ar<Superscript>+</Superscript>-ion irradiation of vanadium and its alloys

Changes in the surface properties of vanadium and its alloys irradiated by Ar⁺ ions with the energy 20 keV, to a dose of 10²² m⁻² at T _irr ≈ 700K have been studied. The radiation effect consists of material surface hardening, increasing the lattice parameters of the irradiated samples, and radiation erosion of the surface layers in the form of flaking. Features of radiation damage to the material’s surface irradiated by gas ions with high sputtering coefficients are discussed.