Estimate of the cross section for thermal neutrons

Cross section of the thermal neutrons is considered in the framework of the statistical approach to the complicated nuclei. The probability distribution ?(z = σ/σ*) to have given cross section σ (determined by fluctuations of resonance positions and widths), where σ* is the cross section for the model of equidistant resonances with the same width, has been calculated. The last quantity can be represented in terms of the neutron strength function for given nuclei. The probability distribution ?(z) is universal for all nuclei.     

A study of 14N using the 13C(d,n)14N reaction

Absolute differential cross sections for the ¹³C(d, n)¹⁴N reaction were measured at deuteron bombarding energies of 4.5, 5.0 and 5.5 MeV. Spectroscopic factors and statistical compound-nucleus contributions are obtained by treating the observed cross sections as an incoherent sum of distorted-wave Born approximation and compound-nucleus contributions. Energy-averaged spectroscopic factors are derived. An anomaly is observed in the yield for the 2.313 MeV T= 1 state.     

Imprints of compound-nucleus and direct-interaction processes in energy-averaged cross sections and durations of nuclear reactions

New analytical expressions for the energy-averaged S-matrix and nuclear-reaction cross sections are obtained on the basis of the unitary S-matrix parametrization. Some approximations are analyzed when compound-nucleus cross sections are described with and without the Hauser-Feshbach formula with the partial-width-fluctuation correction. The connection of the S-matrix parameters in the Simonius representation with the dynamics of compound-nucleus processes is clarified. An explicit expression for the averaged duration of the nuclear reaction is obtained for the range of closely situated resonances. Possible methods of obtaining information on some compound-nucleus and direct-interaction characteristics from the averaged cross sections and durations are examined.     

The rôle of particle transfer in large-angle scattering of 1p-shell nuclei

The scattering of different 1p shell heavy ions on nuclei of the same species has been measured in the whole angular range up to 174°. Various pairs of interacting nuclei have been selected according to the different complexities of their properties which can influence the scattering through higher-order processes to different degrees. In general, the observed rise of the cross section in the backward region is satisfactorily described as a single-step transfer reaction. Second-order processes and compound-nucleus contributions are of no practical importance for the explanation of the elastic scattering data. The performed analysis, however, leaves some features in the experimental angular distributions not fully and satisfactorily understood.     

Fast fission phenomenon,deep inelastic reactions and compound nucleus formation described within a dynamical macroscopic model

We present a dynamical model to describe dissipative heavy ion reactions. It treats explicitly the relative motion of the two ions, the mass asymmetry of the system and the projection of the isospin of each ion. The deformations, which are induced during the collision, are simulated with a time-dependent interaction potential. This is done by a time-dependent transition between a sudden interaction potential in the entrance channel and an adiabatic potential in the exit channel. The model allows us to compute the compound-nucleus cross section and multidifferential cross sections for deep inelastic reactions. In addition, for some systems, and under certain conditions which are discussed in detail, a new dissipative heavy ion collision appears: fast-fission phenomenon which has intermediate properties between deep inelastic and compound nucleus reactions. The calculated properties concerning fast fission are compared with experimental results and reproduce some of those which could not be understood as belonging to deep inelastic or compound-nucleus reactions.     

Special features of nuclear reactions induced by loosely bound <Superscript>6</Superscript>He and <Superscript>6,7</Superscript>Li nuclei in the vicinity of the Coulomb barrier height

Excitation functions are measured for complete-fusion and transfer reactions induced by the interaction of ⁶He and ⁶Li with ²⁰⁶Pb, ²⁰⁹Bi, and Pt. Data obtained for fusion reactions induced by ⁶He ions deviate from the predictions of the statistical model of compound-nucleus decay at projectile energies in the vicinity of the Coulomb barrier height. A strong enhancement of cross sections for fusion reactions induced by the interaction of ⁶He with target nuclei is observed. The cross sections for reactions of cluster transfer, neutron transfer from ⁶He, and deuteron transfer from ⁶Li at deep-subbarrier energies are also found to be enhanced. These results are discussed from the point of view of the effect of the cluster structure of nuclei on the interaction probability at energies in the vicinity of the Coulomb barrier height.     

Study of 20Ne(3He,n)22Mg at 3He energies between 2.6 and 4.0 MeV

The ²⁰Ne(³He, n) reaction leading to the ground state of ²²Mg has been investigated in the ³He⁺ energy range of 2.6 to 4.0 MeV. Angular distributions were determined with a neutron time-of-flight spectrometer at average incident energies (lab) of 3.27, 3.69, and 4.01 MeV between 0° and 120° (lab). Excitation functions for the energy region were measured at 0° and 80° (lab). The observed differential cross sections are explained by coherent contributions from direct interaction and compound-nucleus formation. A spectroscopic factor was extracted for the DWBA calculation from the absolute cross-section measurements and found to be $\text{? = 0.43±0.21}$. Resonances in the compound-nucleus formation were found at 3.00 and 3.33 MeV (c.m.) with widths of 0.28 and 0.21 MeV and spins of $\text{5}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{and}\text{1}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$, respectively.     

Abrupt change in radiation-width distribution for 147Sm neutron resonances

We obtained the total radiation widths of s-wave resonances through an R-matrix analysis of (147)Sm(n,γ) cross sections. Distributions of these widths differ markedly for resonances below and above E(n)=300 eV, which is in stark contrast to long-established theory. We show that this change, as well as a similar change in the neutron-width distribution reported previously, is reflected in abrupt increases in both the average (147)Sm(n,γ) cross section and fluctuations about the average near 300 eV. Such effects could have important consequences for applications such as nuclear astrophysics and nuclear criticality safety.     

Fast neutron radiative capture in silicon

Using the²⁸Si(n, γ)²⁹Si reaction, transitions to the ground state and first excited state in²⁹Si have been studied in the neutron energy range 3–14 MeV with improved neutron energy resolution (of about 100 keV). The 90° cross sections show considerable structure in the entire neutron energy range. Comparison with theoretical calculations shows that compound-nucleus and direct-semidirect processes account for the non-resonant part (smoothly varying part) of the cross section. A microscopic model is, however, required to describe the resonance structure. Continuum shell-model calculations have proven to be a very promising means towards a better understanding of the capture process in, and below, the giant resonance region in light nuclei. The angular distributions of gamma rays in the neutron energy range 8–14 MeV indicate that the capture reaction is mainly of direct character and that the effect of interference between the electric dipole and isoscalar quadrupole resonance is weak.     

On the meaning of the nuclear reaction durations,measured by means of the blocking effect

The expressions for the duration of the nuclear reaction and the compound-nucleus lifetime at a range of strongly over- lapping resonances are generalized. It is shown how the interpretation of the measurements by means of the shadow (blocking) effect is changed when the non-exponential compound-nucleus decay is taken into account. A new method is proposed for obtaining information on the resonance density and width from the measured compound-nucleus lifetimes with the utilization of the optical-statistical analysis.     

Isotopic effect in the width of a giant dipole resonance in light nuclei

An isotopic effect in the widths of giant dipole resonances is established on the basis of an analysis of the latest systematics of photoabsorption cross sections for nuclei containing 12 to 65 nucleons. This effect arises owing to isospin splitting of a giant resonance and is enhanced by its configuration splitting.     

Parity non-conservation effects in neutron elastic scattering reactions

Energy dependence of parity non-conservation effects is derived for neutron elastic scattering on nuclei: emission asymmetry and the rotation of the polarization plane for the polarized neutron beam and longitudinal polarization for unpolarized neutrons. Both potential scattering and scattering through the compound-nucleus resonances (multi-level approximation) are taken into account. The expressions obtained are compared with experimental data on thermal neutron scattering.     

Muonic atoms in the neighbourhood of lead

In a previous paper the electroexcitation of various giant multipole resonances in heavy nuclei has been discussed in Born approximation. This has given only the qualitative features of the cross section, since the electron wave functions in heavy nuclei are considerably distorted by the nuclear charge. Therefore we derive in this paper the corresponding cross sections using a phase shift analysis for the electron wave functions. Moreover, the coupling between giant resonances and surface oscillations has been taken into account. This leads to transitions not only to the several giant resonances itself but also to their “satellites” (i.e. giant resonance plus surface oscillations). Since the giant resonances have rather large widths, the calculated differential cross sections have been folded using a Lorentz shape and plotted against excitation energy. It is shown that the quadrupole giant resonance levels should be observed very clearly at scattering angles of the electron of about 40° (primary energy of the electrons about 200 MeV). It seems, however, unlikely to observe the monopole giant resonance as a distinct peak of the electron cross section because of the relatively large damping to be expected.     

Elastic scattering of 17, 18O on 12, 13C at Ec.m. = 12.6 – 14.0 MeV

The angular distributions of the elastic scattering of ^{17, 18}O on ^{12, 13}C were measured at c.m. energies between 12.6 to 14.0 MeV. A rise of the cross section at backward angles was observed. Standard optical-model fits were found to reproduce reasonably well the forward part of the cross section, but fail at backward angles. Possible contributions of first-order cluster exchange and compound-nucleus reactions are discussed. Excitation functions of various exit channels in the ¹⁸O + ¹²C system were measured at backward angles in the energy range of 12.0 to 14.8 MeV c.m. No significant correlation was found between any of these cross sections.     

Parity nonconservation in nuclear physics

We present an overview of the parity-nonconservation effects in nuclear physics. In the processes of polarized neutron scattering by nuclei, apart from the ordinary dynamical enhancement, we also consider the additional resonant enhancement in the entrance channel due to the proximity of the compound-nucleus p-wave resonance. We discuss the problem of extracting information on the electroweak interaction of nucleons from nuclear data.     

Properties of products originating from the interaction of 35-MeV/nucleon <Superscript>7</Superscript>Li ions with Pb nuclei

The results are presented that were obtained by measuring and analyzing the yields and kinematical features of radioactive products of the reactions initiated in a lead target by lithium ions accelerated to an energy of 35M eV per nucleon. The cross sections, charge and mass distributions, and kinematical and energy features of various reaction products associated with the fission and the evaporation channels of the decay of excited nuclei are determined. Quantities that are calculated in the present study include the momenta and kinetic energies of residual nuclei, as well as the momentum transfer and the excitation energy of intermediate nuclear systems formed upon complete and incomplete fusion. On the basis of an analysis of data obtained in our experiment, the total cross section for nuclear interaction and partial widths with respect to various channels of the decay of intermediate compound nuclei are determined in the energy range being investigated.     

Statistical theory of precompound reactions: The multistep compound process

Using a quantum-statistical framework, the method of the generating function involving both commuting and anticommuting variables, and the saddle-point approximation followed by the loop expansion, we derive a theoretical framework for multistep-compound reactions. Our statistical input distinguishes between several classes of states of increasing complexity; this distinction is possible only at the expense of relinquishing the orthogonal invariance of the distribution of Hamiltonian matrix elements usually required in compound-nucleus theories. Our result contains both the compound-nucleus scattering cross section and the theory of Agassi Weidenmüller, and Montzouranis (Phys. Lett. C22 (1975), 145.) developed earlier as special cases. It goes beyond this theory, and extends the framework of precompound theories in general, by allowing the couplings between classes, and to the channels, to be reasonably strong. A self-consistency condition embodied in the saddle-point equation implies in this case that the level densities used in precompound calculations must be modified. We investigate the modification in simple model cases. Our results suggest that the modification may be relevant for the high-energy tail of the spectrum of precompound particles.     

Simultaneous measurement of lithium and fluorine momentum in (7)LiF

We present momentum widths and mean kinetic energies of lithium and fluorine in (7)LiF, as determined simultaneously from deep inelastic neutron scattering (DINS) measurements. Experimental data across a temperature range from 4 to 300?K are presented, and these results compared to those calculated using a quasi-harmonic density-functional approach. In all cases, measured momentum widths are seen to be within approximately 5% of those calculated, despite the very low scattering cross sections of both (7)Li and (19)F. This is the first determination and comparison with theory of such simultaneous measurements for nuclei of mass >?4?amu, and demonstrates the implementation of the DINS method in its current form as a mass-selective neutron spectroscopy.