Shell effects in the symmetric-modal fission of pre-actinide nuclei

Mass distributions of fragments in the low-energy fission of nuclei from ¹⁸⁷Ir to ²¹³At have been analysed. This analysis has shown that shell effects in symmetric-mode fragment mass yields from the fission of pre-actinide nuclei could be described if one assumes the existence of two strongly deformed neutron shells in the arising fragments with neutron numbers N₁ ≈ 52 and N₂ ≈ 68. A new method has been proposed for quantitatively describing the mass distributions of the symmetric fission mode for pre-actinides with A ≈ 180–220.     

A new formula for the saddle-to-scission time

We propose a new formula for the saddle-to-scission time that is more general that the one based on Kramers' approach. Its validity and applicability is then studied in detail. Such a formula is useful for the evaluation of the fission time of very heavy nuclei.     

Recent radiochemical studies of the fission process

This article summarizes the recent radiochemical investigations on mass, charge kinetic energy and fragment angular distributions in low energy fission of actinides.     

Particle multiplicities in the fission-like reactions of 340 MeV Si on Th

Pre-scission and post-scission multiplicities of neutrons and alpha particles have been simultaneously measured for the fission-like reactions of 340 MeV ²⁸Si on ²³²Th. Dynamical model calculations using HICOL code predict that about 90% of the observed events are of quasi-fission type while the remaining 10% are from compound nucleus fission decay. Moving source fits were carried out to the observed neutron and alpha particle spectra, measured at different angles with respect to the fragment directions. The pre-scission and post-scission neutron multiplicities are deduced to be 8.7±2.0 and 9.4±2.0, respectively. The corresponding multiplicity values for alpha particles are found to be 0.22±0.08 and 0.1±0.03. From the measured post-scission neutron multiplicity, it is inferred that about 65±20 MeV of the initial excitation energy remains at scission. This may be compared to the value of 85±30 MeV estimated from PACE2 statistical model calculations, adjusted to reproduce the measured pre-scission neutron multiplicity. From a comparison of the Statistical Model predictions with the measured pre-scission neutron multiplicity, the fission delay is estimated to be of 5⁺⁷₋₃×10⁻²⁰ s which overlaps with the average duration of fission-like process from the contact to the scission point (2×10⁻²⁰ s) as determined from HICOL-based dynamical calculations. For the delay time deduced as above, the pre-scission alpha particle multiplicity calculated by the PACE2 code is about a factor two larger than the experimental one, demonstrating the difficulties in modelling the alpha particle emission from highly elongated shapes that characterize the fissioning system from the contact point to scission.     

Ternary Fission

In this review paper, ternary fission is defined as the break-up of heavy nuclei into three fragments of approximately equal mass. This relatively new type of nuclear decay has been investigated intensively during the last decade. Muga has studied ternary fission induced by thermal neutrons in uranium. The results of his experiments are discussed in detail. Ternary fission can definitely be observed and studied in the interaction of heavy target elements with 39 MeV alpha particles, 20 GeV protons, and 300—400MeV argon ions. The ratio of binary-to-binary fission for uranium is approximately 10^?4: 100 in the interaction of 39 MeV alpha particles, approximately 0.1:100 for 20 GeV protons, and 3:100 for 400MeV argon ions. A theoretical model for the interpretation of ternary fission, the “cascade model”, is described. The paper concludes with a discussion of the possible connection of ternary fission with the production and decay of still undiscovered super-heavy elements (Z = 114).     

Informationen

Es wird über eine spezifische Abtrennung des Urans aus Mischungen radioaktiver Spaltprodukte mittels Dünnschichtchromatographie berichtet. Die bei kurz bestrahlten Uranproben am Uranfleck gefundene Radioaktivität kann auf Grund γ-spektrometrischer Messungen dem ²³⁹Np zugeordnet werden.     

CDK5-dependent inhibitory phosphorylation of Drp1 during neuronal maturation

Mitochondrial functions are essential for the survival and function of neurons. Recently, it has been demonstrated that mitochondrial functions are highly associated with mitochondrial morphology, which is dynamically changed by the balance between fusion and fission. Mitochondrial morphology is primarily controlled by the activation of dynamin-related proteins including dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1), which promotes mitochondrial fission. Drp1 activity is regulated by several post-translational modifications, thereby modifying mitochondrial morphology. Here, we found that phosphorylation of Drp1 at serine 616 (S616) is mediated by cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5) in post-mitotic rat neurons. Perturbation of CDK5 activity modified the level of Drp1^S616 phosphorylation and mitochondrial morphology in neurons. In addition, phosphorylated Drp1^S616 preferentially localized as a cytosolic monomer compared with total Drp1. Furthermore, roscovitine, a chemical inhibitor of CDKs, increased oligomerization and mitochondrial translocation of Drp1, suggesting that CDK5-dependent phosphorylation of Drp1 serves to reduce Drp1''s fission-promoting activity. Taken together, we propose that CDK5 has a significant role in the regulation of mitochondrial morphology via inhibitory phosphorylation of Drp1^S616 in post-mitotic neurons.     

掺锗硅基高非线性光纤超连续光源研究

利用非线性偏振旋转锁模掺铒光纤激光器和1100m长的掺锗硅基高非线性光纤制作了超连续光源，获得了从1150～1750nm的超宽带输出光谱，其中1150～1350nm波段光谱起伏小于3dB，1600～1700nm波段平坦度优于1dB，并有很好的向长波延展空间。光谱展宽的机理为孤子分裂与受激拉曼散射，而四波混频使光谱进一步展宽。     

Systematics on fission fragment mass distribution of neutron induced 235U fission

Based on the neutron induced fission fragment mass distribution data up to neutron energy 20 MeV measured with the double kinetic energy method (KEM) and the radio active method (RAM), the systematics of fission fragment mass distribution was investigated by using 5 Gaussian model and the systematics parameters were obtained by fitting the experimental data. With the systematics, the yields of any mass A and at any energy in the region from 0 to 20 MeV of neutron energy can be calculated. The calculated results could well reproduce the experimental data measured with KEM, but show some systematical deviation from the data measured by RAM, which reflects some systematical deviations between the two kinds of measured data.The error of systematics yield was calculated in an exact error transformation way, including from the error of the experimental yield data to the error of the discrete parameters, then to the systematics parameters,and at last to the yield calculated with systematics.