Determination of fragment isotopic yields in the fission of 252Cf accompanied by light charged particles

High resolution measurements of prompt γ-rays emitted from fission fragments accompanied by light charged particles (LCP) and those emitted from normal binary fission fragments in ²⁵²Cf fission were simultaneously carried out using a 30 cm³ Ge(Li) detector. A “sandwich” type of arrangement in the source-detector assembly was used to eliminate Doppler broadening of the γ-ray lines in both cases. About thirty γ-ray lines were assigned to specific fission fragments by comparison with the published results for binary fission, and the ratios of intensities of these γ-ray lines in LCP fission and binary fission were determined. Assuming that 2⁺ → 0⁺ transition intensities of doubly even isotopes are a measure of their yields, the yields of several such isotopes in LCP accompanied fission relative to that in binary fission were obtained.     

Time distribution of γ-rays from spontaneous fission of 252Cf at short times

The gross time distribution of γ-rays from spontaneous fission of ²⁵²Cf has been measured in the time range 10^?14?10^?10 s after fission for γ-ray energies greater than 0.15 MeV. The measurements have been made by a new method based upon the solid angle aberration. From the measured correlation between half-lives and γ-ray transition energies it is concluded that the transitions are predominantly E2, single-particle transitions at high energies, and mostly vibrational and rotational transitions at lower energies. Some contribution of E1 transitions and M1-E2 mixtures cannot be excluded, however. It was found that about 30% ofthe γ-rays emitted within 12 ns with energies greater than 0.10 MeV, have half-lives shorter than 1 ps and about 52 % half-lives between 1 and 100 ps. The relative yield of γ -rays and γ-ray energy in the time range 10^?14 to 1.2 × 10^?7 s ater fission is given.     

Exotic nuclei produced by heavy-ions induced fission

About thirty nuclei in theA≈100 mass region have been produced as fission fragments following the fusion-evaporation reactions^28,30Si+¹⁷⁶Yb at 145 MeV bombarding energy. These nuclei have been individually identified from their γ-ray cascades detected with the Eurogam2 array. The level schemes of several stable or neutron-rich nuclei have been extended to higher spins. From cross coincidences between transitions in complementary fragments, γ-rays de-exciting high-spin states of new isotopes can be identified and some aspects of the fission mechanism can be analyzed.     

Average spins of primary fission fragments

The average spins at which final fragments are formed after fission following fusion of ¹⁹F with ¹⁹⁷Au have been measured directly from spectroscopic studies of discrete γ-ray lines. The final fragment spins can be translated into average spins at which primary fragments are formed by adding changes due to statistical γ-ray emission and post-fission neutron emission. The average primary fragment spins show marked variations with fragment mass. Possible causes for the structure are discussed within the framework of the statistical scission model of heavy-ion induced fission.     

Symmetric and asymmetric fission in electron induced fission of 232Th

We have measured fragment kinetic energies in electron induced fission of ²³²Th for electron energies in the range 7 MeV ≦ E_e ≦ 66 MeV. The relative contribution of the distribution peak associated with high fragment kinetic energies decreases continuously with electron energy. This is interpreted as a relative increase of the symmetric fission yield as compared to the asymmetric fission yield; this fact in turn indicates a non-negligible increase in the average excitation of the fissioning nucleus, with the energy of the bombarding electrons, even above the giant dipole resonance.     

Prompt neutron emission spectra and multiplicities in the thermal neutron induced fission of235U

The emission spectra of prompt fission neutrons from mass and kinetic energy selected fission fragments have been measured in²³⁵U(n _th,f). Neutron energies were determined from the measurement of the neutron time of flight using a NE213 scintillation detector. The fragment energies were measured by a pair of surface barrier detectors in one set of measurements and by a back-to-back gridded ionization chamber in the second set of measurements. The data were analysed event by event to deduce neutron energy in the rest frame of the emitting fragment for the determination of neutron emission spectra and multiplicities as a function of the fragment mass and total kinetic energy. The results are compared with statistical model calculations using shell and excitation energy dependent level density formulations to deduce the level density parameters of the neutron rich fragment nuclei over a large range of fragment masses.     

Vibrational band structure in 184W populated in the decay of 184Re

The decay of ^184mRe has been investigated through γ-ray and conversion electron studies. The band head of the K^π = 2^? octupole band has been established at 1130.0 keV. The E2/M1 mixing ratios of three transitions from the γ-vibrational band to the ground state band have been determined by angular correlation measurements. A mixing of El, M2 and E3 multipolarity has been derived for the 921 keV transition combining angular correlation and conversion electron data. A value B(E3, 0⁺ → 3^? = (25 ± 5) × 10⁴e² · fm⁶ was obtained from the measured E2/M1 mixing of the 91 keV 3^? → → 2^? transition and γ-branchings. The data are discussed in terms of the collective model taking into account band mixing.     

Lifetime measurements of excited levels in prompt fission products of 252Cf

Lifetimes in the range 10⁻¹¹ to 10⁻⁹ s of prompt γ rays emitted from the fission fragments of ²⁵²Cf were measured using a recoil distance method. A ²⁵²Cf source was deposited on a stretched Ni foil and placed in a plunger device, the recoil direction of the studied fragments being determined by the detection of the complementary fragment. The lifetime was determined by the change in the non-Doppler-shifted peak intensities of prompt γ rays as a function of the source-plunger distance. The 2⁺ → 0⁺ half-life in ¹¹²Pd and 4⁺ → 0⁺ halflives in ^{104, 106}Mo, ^108,110Ru and ¹⁴²Ba were determined for the first time. Several other measurements of longer lived 2⁺ → 0⁺ transitions were repeated as well. The experimental results are discussed within the framework of the rotational and the IBA-2 models.     

Light charged particle emission and fission in238U+238U collisions at 1,740 MeV

Inclusive⁴He and⁴H energy spectra and heavy fragment coincidence correlations have been measured for reactions of 7.31 MeV/u²³⁸U with²³⁸U and^?197Au targets. The H/He production cross sections are in the range 15–26 mb, and their emission spectra are very similar for the two systems. The observed strong kinematic shifts with angle are reproduced in shape and magnitude by Monte Carlo simulations of particle evaporation from projectile-like and target-like fragments, indicating competition between charged particle emission and sequential fission. No evidence is found for high energy charged particle emission associated with ultra-highZ composite systems. Heavy fragment measurements indicate an abundance of quasielastic and deeply inelastic reaction fragments, as well as sequential fission of target and projectile nuclei. For²³⁸U nuclei, the fission occurs predominantly in an asymmetric mode, reminiscent of fission at low excitation energy. For²³⁸+²³⁸U reactions in the vicinity of the grazing angle, the frequency of single sequential fission (with survival of the partner fragment) is twice as large as double sequential fission in which both the target and projectile undergo fission. In²³⁸U+¹⁹⁷Au reactions, the survival probability of the heavy fragments is even greater. The surprisingly high survival probabilities of high-Z fragments imply a preponderance of very soft collisions in these very-heavy-ion reactions, at least at energies not very far over the Coulomb barrier.     

Gamma rays of primary fission products from 235U(n,f) and 239Pu(n,f)

Gamma rays of primary fission products in thermal-neutron-induced fission of ²³⁵U and ²³⁹Pu were investigated. Isotopic assignments of several lines were made by comparing fission yield ratios and relative γ-ray intensities of the two fissioning nuclei. Differences between ²³⁵U and ²⁵²Cf fission product γ-ray lines are discussed.     

Effect of Rotation on Transition Energies and M1 Transitions in Superdeformed Nuclei

Using triaxial-particle-rotor model, a strong perturbation effect of rotation on transition energies and M1 transitions is investigated. The γ-transition energies,B(M1) -values and n γ-ray intensity are given. The M1 tranSitions between signature partner bands in the ¹⁹⁵T1 nucleus may proceed mainly through internal conversion electrons.     

Low-lying states of 109Sn from the 106Cd(α, nγ) reaction

Measurements of γ-ray, γγ-coincidence and internal conversion electron spectra from the ¹⁰⁶Cd(α, nγ)¹⁰⁹Sn reaction were carried out at 15–20 MeV α-particle bombarding energies with Ge(HP) γ-ray and superconducting magnetic lens plus Si(Li) electron spectrometers. The energies, relative intensities, internal conversion coefficients and coincidence relations of the ¹⁰⁹Sn transitions were determined, and a more complete, consistent level scheme has been deduced. Spin and parity values have been determined from the internal conversion coefficients, the bombarding-energy dependence of the side-feeding intensities of the states and the available γ-ray angular distribution data. The level scheme was interpreted in the framework of the quasi-particle shell model.     

Levels in 156Gd studied in the (n, γ) reaction

Levels up to 2.3 MeV in ¹⁵⁶Gd have been studied using the (n, γ) reaction. Energies and intensities of low-energy γ-rays and electrons emitted after thermal neutron capture have been measured with a curved-crystal spectrometer, Ge(Li) detectors and a magnetic electron spectrometer. High-energy (primary) γ-rays and electrons have been measured with Ge(Li) detectors and a magnetic spectrometer. The high-energy γ-ray spectrum has also been measured in thermal neutron capture in 2 keV resonance neutron capture. The neutron separation energy in ¹⁵⁶Gd was measured as S_n = 8535.8 ± 0.5 keV.About 600 transitions were observed of which ~50% could be placed in a level scheme containing more than 50 levels up to 2.3 MeV excitation energy. 42 of these levels were grouped into 15 excited bands. In addition to the β-band at 1050 keV we observe 0⁺ bands at 1168, 1715 and 1851 keV. Other positive-parity bands are: 1⁺ bands at 1966, 2027 and 2187 keV; 2⁺ bands at 1154 (γ-band) and 1828 keV; and 4⁺ bands at 1511 and 1861 keV. Negative-parity bands are observed at 1243 keV (1^?), 1366 keV (0^?), 1780 keV (2^?) and 2045 keV (4^?). Reduced E2 and E0 transition probabilities have been derived for many transitions. The ground band, the β- and γ-bands and the 0⁺ band at 1168 keV have been included in a phenomenological four-band mixing calculation, which reproduces well the experimental energies and E2 transition probabilities.The lowest three negative-parity (octupole) bands of which the 0^? and the 1^? bands are very strongly mixed, were included in a Coriolis-coupling analysis, which reproduces well the observed energies. The E1 transition probabilities to the ground band are also well reproduced, while those from the higher-lying 0⁺ bands to the octupole bands are not reproduced. Absolute and relative transition probabilities have been compared with predictions of the IBA model and the pairingplus-quadrupole model. Both models reproduce well the E2 transitions from the γ-band, while strong disagreements are found for the E2 transitions from the β-band. The IBA model predicts part of the decay features of the higher lying 2⁺₂, 4⁺₁ and 2^?₁ bands.     

Collective bands in even mass Sn isotopes

Positive parity bands in ^{112, 114, 116, 118}Sn have been excited up to levels with spin and parity J^π = 12⁺ using Cd(α, 2nγ)Sn reactions. The experiments consisted of γ-ray excitation function, γ-γ coincidence, lifetime, γ-ray angular distribution, γ-ray linear polarization and conversion electron measurements. The observed bands show strong resemblances with ground-state bands of transitional nuclei in this mass region. It is pointed out that the J^π = 0⁺ band-heads originate from 2p-2h excitations in the Z = 50 proton shell. The excitation energies of the band-heads are calculated by means of the macroscopic-microscopic renormalization method. Pair correlations between the 2h and 2p configurations are included separately in a phenomenological way by taking into account the pairing energies of the Cd and Te ground states with respect to the Sn ground state.     

Angular momenta of fission fragments in the α-accompanied fission of 252Cf

For the first time, average angular momenta of the ternary fission fragments ^{100, 102}Zr, ¹⁰⁶Mo, ^{144, 146}Ba and ^{138, 140, 142}Xe from the α-accompanied fission of ²⁵²Cf were obtained from relative intensities of prompt γ-ray transitions with the use of the statistical model calculation. Average values of the angular momenta were compared with the corresponding values for the same fission fragments from the binary fission of ²⁵²Cf. Results indicate the presence of a decreasing trend in the average values of angular momenta induced in ternary fission fragments compared to the same binary fission fragments. On the average, the total angular momentum extracted for ternary fission fragments is ∼1.4 ℏ lower than in binary fission. Consequently, results indicate that the mechanism of the ternary α-particles emission may directly effect an induction of angular momenta of fission fragments, and possible scenarios of such mechanisms are discussed. Further, the dependence of the angular momenta of ¹⁰⁶Mo and ¹⁴⁰Xe on the number of emitted neutrons from correlated pairs of primary fragments was obtained also showing a decreasing dependence of average angular momenta with increasing number of emitted neutrons. Consequences are briefly discussed.     

Behaviour of Prompt Gamma-Ray Emission in ColdFission of 252Cf

The behaviour of prompt γ-ray emission in the cold fission of ²⁵²Cf was investigated experimentally using a four-parameter correlation technique. A twin gridded ionization chamber was employed to detect the fission signals and to determine the fragment emission angles, and a φ10cm×10cm NaI(T1) detector was used to record the γ-ray energies. The result shows that the angular distribution coefficient of γ-rays emitted in cold fission is twice as large as that in the normal fission.The fact that in the cold fission the number of γ-rays emitted from the light fragments is approximately three times as large as that from the heavy ones can not be explained satisfactorily so far.     

Mass and energy dependence of pion-induced fission

Data for fission induced by pi meson beams from 80 to 500 MeV are presented for nuclei from Fe through Pu as measured by solid state track detectors. The general trends for binary fission withπ ⁺ are reproduced fairly well by a calculation in the ‘high excitation’ limit with standard level density and fission barrier parameters, butπ ^? data are underpredicted. A universal dependence of the binary fission probabilities with the fissility (Z±1)²/A is found to be valid for both pion beam charges for all beam energies below the delta resonance. Probabilities for observing three fragments withπ ⁺ are not reproduced by a ternary fission application of the model found to work for binary fission.     

Evidence for a J = 0 first excited state of Zr through a measurement of internal conversion electrons from fission products

An investigation of conversion electrons from fission fragments and fission products of the ²³⁵U(n, f) reaction has revealed a strong E0 transition in some isotope at Z=40. Strong evidence that this transition depopulates the first excited state of ⁹⁸Zr is presented.     

In-beam conversion electrons from 141Pr, 143Pm, 144Pm and 145Pm excited by (α, xn) and (p,n) reactions

Electromagnetic transitions between low-lying states in the odd proton nuclei ₅₉¹⁴¹Pr₈₂, ₆₁¹⁴³Pm₈₂, ₆₁¹⁴⁴Pm₈₃ and ₆₁¹⁴⁵Pm₈₄ with neutron numbers N ≈ 82 were studied by means of in-beam electron-gamma spectroscopy. The triple-focusing electron spectrum selector (TESS) was used to measure in-beam conversion electrons. The TESS, giving very good electron line spectra with small background, was found to be very powerful for in-beam spectroscopy. Accurate values for the internal conversion coefficients (ICC) were obtained by measuring simultaneously both conversion electrons and γ-rays. M2, E3 and some other multipolarities were uniquely assigned from the ICC for the γ-transitions between low-lying states. Properties of these transitions and energy levels are discussed. Analyses of the M2 and E3 transition rates gave, respectively, an isospin-spin (magnetic) core polarization effect and an octupole core polarization effect. The l-forbidden M1 transitions were analyzed in terms of the tensor terms.     

Study of the Mo-Ba partition in 252Cf spontaneous fission

Measurements of fission fragment yields and neutron multiplicities have been carried out for the Mo-Ba fragment pairs in the spontaneous fission of ²⁵²Cf, using the γ-ray spectroscopy technique to analyze γ-γ-γ coincidence data. Prompt γ -ray multiplicities were also measured as a function of the number of neutrons emitted in the fission process leading to the Mo-Ba partition. We do not observe the enhancement in the yields of events with high neutron emission multiplicity (ν_n > 7) that has been associated to a second fission mode leading to the production of hyperdeformed Ba fragments, as reported in some earlier studies. The average γ-ray multiplicity is found to be rather weakly dependent on the number of neutrons emitted in the fission process. Received: 21 July 1999 / Revised version: 19 November 1999