Correlations of fission fragment angular momentum with collective and intrinsic degrees of freedom

In the present work angular momenta of the fragments corresponding to¹³²I^m,g have been deduced from the radiochemically determined independent isomeric yield ratios and statistical model based analysis in neutron induced fission of²³⁵U,²³⁹Pu and²⁴⁵Cm and spontaneous fission of²⁵²Cf. These data along with similar data on¹³⁴I, reported earlier from this laboratory, bring out the effects of deformed 66n and spherical 82n shells on fragment angular momentum showing also an inverse correlation of the latter with elemental yields. Quantitative estimates of fragment scission point deformation and the coefficient of change of fragment angular momentum with kinetic/excitation energy have been deduced and are seen to be in good agreement with the expected theoretical estimates.     

Influence of the odd neutron on the fragment characteristics in the photofission of 235U

Cumulative and independent post-neutron product yields were measured for the photofission on ²³⁵U with 6.5, 7.0, and 8.4 MeV bremsstrahlung, applying γ-spectrometric methods on catcherfoils and pneumatically transported ²³⁵U-samples. The independent yields for the heavy (A = 128–149) fragments were deduced. Post-neutron mass and isotonic yield distributions were studied together with the elemental yield distributions and the proton odd-even effect. The mass distribution shows about an equal yield for the mass regions around A = 134 (N = 82) and A = 142 (N = 86–88). The proton odd-even effect for the fission of this odd-A nucleus remains at a constant value δ_p = 25% in the studied compound nucleus excitation energy region, indicating that the odd neutron does not influence the energy transfer between the different degrees of freedom during the descent from saddle to scission point in a substantial way.     

Systematics of complex fragment emission in niobium-induced reactions

Complex fragments of 3<Z⪅35 have been detected in the reverse-kinematics reactions of ⁹³Nb plus ⁹Be, ¹²C and ²⁷Al at bombarding energies of E/A=11.4, 14.7 and 18.0 MeV. Velocity spectra and angular distributions show the presence of projectile and target-like components along with a component isotropic (in the reaction plane). This latter component aappears as a Coulomb ring in the invariant cross section plots indicating the presence of a binary decay which is confirmed by the coincidence data. Statistical model calculations indicate that for the Nb+Be and C reactions, the isotropic component is associated with the binary decay of compound nuclei formed in complete fusion reactions. The charge distributions for these two systems are consistent with the conditional barriers predicted with the rotating finite-range model. For the Nb+Al reactions, there is an additional isotropic component besides compound nucleus decay, which may arise from fast fission.     

Mechanism of light fragment production in the interaction of 8.8 GeV 4He with 208Pb

The events with at least three fragments with Z>2 from the interaction of 8.8 GeV ⁴He with ²⁰⁸Pb nuclei have been examined using a CR-39 plastic track detector. The analysis shows that the majority of these events is produced in central collisions. But, it is also observed that no negligible part of them originates from peripheral collisions and has one heavy and two light fragments (2<Z_L<20). This indicates that various mechanisms contribute to the production of light fragments in high energy nuclear interactions.     

Dynamical intermediate-mass fragment production in197Au+197Au collisions at energies ≤15 MeV/u

We present radiochemical data on the production of intermediate-mass fragments (IMF, 11≤Z<≈25) in collisions of¹⁹⁷Au+¹⁹⁷Au at 9, 11, 13 and 15 MeV/u. We demonstrate that the IMFs are produced in two-step reactions: Highly excited heavy nuclei are formed in a binary deep-inelastic reaction, and the IMFs originate from fast mass-asymmetric sequential fission of these primary reaction products.     

Analysis of fragment mass distribution in asymmetric area at fission of <Superscript>235</Superscript>U induced by thermal neutrons

The fragment mass yields in fission of ²³⁵U induced by thermal neutrons for A = 145–160 and E_K = 50–75 MeV were measured using a mass spectrometer. The fine structure is observed at A = 153, 154 and E_K = 50–60 MeV. The obtained results were described in the framework of a model based on the dinuclear system concept. The analyzed correlation between the total kinetic energy and mass distribution of fission fragments is connected with the shell structure of the formed fragments of fission. From this correlation and the time dependence of the calculated mass distribution of the binary reaction products, one can conclude that the descent time from a saddle point to a scission point for the more deformed fragments is longer than that for fragments of more compact shape.     

Formalism and applications of electrofission and photofission fragment angular distributions

A formalism for the joint analysis of angular distributions of electro- and photofission fragments is presented, utilizing the vitual-photon spectrum technique in DWBA. This formalism is applied to the study of angular distributions for the electrofission of ²³⁸U, measured near the fission barrier, to obtain information about the low-lying levels (J^π, K) of the transition nucleus. The (2⁺, 0), (1^?, 0), and (1^?, 1) levels, previously detected in photofission experiments, were confirmed. Evidences of a significant contributions of (1⁺, 1), (2⁺, 1)and (2⁺, 2) levels are also presented.     

Effect of secondary decay on isoscaling: Results from the canonical thermodynamical model

The projectile fragmentation reactions using ⁵⁸Ni and ⁶⁴Ni beams at 140 MeV/n on targets ⁹Be and ¹⁸¹Ta are studied using the canonical thermodynamical model coupled with an evaporation code. The isoscaling property of the fragments produced is studied using both the primary and the secondary fragments and it is observed that the secondary fragments also respect isoscaling though the isoscaling parameters α and β changes. The temperature needed to reproduce experimental data with the secondary fragments is less than that needed with the primary ones. The canonical model coupled with the evaporation code successfully explains the experimental data for isoscaling for the projectile fragmentation reactions.     

Independent yields of Kr and Xe isotopes in the photofission of heavy nuclei

The yields of Kr (A = 87–93) and Xe (A = 138–143) primary fission fragments produced in ²³²Th, ²³⁸U, and ²⁴⁴Pu photofission upon the scission of a target nucleus and neutron emission were measured in an experiment with bremsstrahlung from electrons accelerated to 25 MeV by a microtron, and the results of these measurements are presented. The experimental procedure used involved the transportation of fragments that escaped from the target by a gas flow through a capillary and the condensation of Kr and Xe inert gases in a cryostat at liquid-nitrogen temperature. The fragments of all other elements were retained with a filter at the capillary inlet. The isotopes of Kr and Xe were identified by the γ spectra of their daughter products. The mass-number distributions of the independent yields of Kr and Xe isotopes are obtained and compared with similar data on fission induced by thermal and fast neutrons; the shifts of the fragment charges with respect to the undistorted charge distribution are determined. Prospects for using photofission fragments in studying the structure of highly neutron-rich nuclei are discussed.     

Dynamical model of fission fragment angular distributions

A dynamical model of fission fragment angular distributions is developed. The experimental data on the angular anisotropy of fission fragments is analyzed for the ¹⁶O + ²⁰⁸Pb, ²³²Th, ²³⁸U, and ²⁴⁸Cm reactions at energies of the incident ¹⁶O ions ranging from 90 to 160 MeV. This analysis allows us to extract the relaxation time for the tilting mode. It was also demonstrated that the angular distributions are sensitive to the deformation dependence of the nuclear friction.

     

Analysis of angular momentum dependence of fission fragment mass-energy distribution within Langevin dynamics

Dependence of fission fragment mass-energy distribution on the angular momentum is studied within Langevin dynamics. The calculations are performed in the framework of the generalized temperature-dependent finite-range liquid drop model. The analysis is done for five compound nuclear systems representing heavy fissioning nuclei, medium fissioning nuclei, and a light fissioning one with the angular momentum varied in a wide range from l = 0 to 70?. The coefficients d〈E _K 〉/dl ² and $d\sigma _{{\rm E}_{\rm K} }^2 /dl^2 $ are extracted. Previous analysis of the dσ _M ² /dl ² coefficient is generalized. Excitation energy dependence of the fission fragment mass-energy distribution is also found. The qualitative comparison of the extracted values with the experimental data reveals good agreement for all the cases. The calculated values of the coefficients dσ _M ² /dl ² and $d\sigma _{{\rm E}_{\rm K} }^2 /dl^2 $ are functions of the angular momentum, in contrast to the experimental estimations.     

Fission fragment angular momentum in ODD-Z fissioning systems

Independent isomeric yield ratios of ¹²⁸Sb, ¹³⁰Sb, ¹³², ¹³¹Te, ¹³³Te, ¹³²I, ¹³⁴I, ¹³⁶I, ¹³⁵Xe and ¹³⁸Cs have been determined in the fast neutron induced fission of ²³⁷Np and ²⁴¹Am using radiochemical and gamma spectrometric technique. From the independent isomeric yield ratios, fragment angular momenta (J_rms) have been deduced using spin-dependent statistical model analysis. Comparison of these data with the literature data for even-Z fissioning systems shows the following important features: (i) Angular momenta for fragments with spherical 82n shell and even-Z products are lower compared to the fragments with out the 82n shell and odd-Z products indicating the effect of nuclear structure. (ii) Angular momentum of even-Z products in all the fissioning systems are comparable where as for odd-Z products it is slightly higher in the odd-Z fissioning systems than in the adjacent even-Z fissioning systems. This indicates the role of single particle on fragment angular momentum in odd-Z fissioning systems. Received: 26 March 1999 / Revised version: 16 October 1999     

Correlation between fragment mass-distribution fine structure,charge distribution and nuclear structure for thermal-neutron-induced fission of 233U and 235U

Masses corresponding to observed fine-structure peaks in the fragment mass distributions for thermal-neutron-induced fission of ²³³U and ²³⁵U are shown to correspond to average measured masses for even-even nuclear charge splits. Evidence is presented that the yield enhancement for even-Z fragments is not restricted just to fission events with higher-than-average total kinetic energy. The anomalously high yield of fragments with mass 134 in ²³⁵U(n, f) as opposed to ²³³(n, f) is tentatively correlated with rapidly changing nuclear structure properties as a function of the mass of the complementary light (Z = 40) fragments.     

A study of the differential cross section in subbarrier photofission of238U

A measurement of the angular distribution and yield of fission fragments from photofission of²³⁸U has been performed between 5.2 MeV and 6.4 MeV. Asγ-source the bremsstrahlung from a microtron has been used. For the detection of the fission fragments, solid state track detectors were used. The yield data were evaluated to approximate cross sections. The data were analyzed within the framework of the double hump barrier model.     

Light charged particle release in252Cf spontaneous fission: Tripartition versus fragment de-excitation

Double-differential emission probabilities P (E, θ) in angle θ and energy E of protons, tritons, and α-particles were measured in the case of spontaneous fission of²⁵²Cf. A detector system consisting of position-sensitive parallel-plate avalanche counters (PPAC) and ΔE?E-telescopes allowed a coincidence measurement of fission fragments (FF) and light charged particles (LCP) in the whole region from 0 deg. to 180 deg. with respect to the light-fragment direction. Previous results for α-particle emission were confirmed. The background contributions for protons are discussed in detail. For proton emission the background arising from (n, p)-reactions was measured and compared with a corresponding Monte-Carlo simulation of elastic (n, p)-clusions. Unlike for tritons and a-particles the P (E, θ) distribution for protons does not show equatorial peaking in 0 between 80 deg. and 90 deg. and contradicts classical scission point emission. The proton distribution, however, agrees with fragment de-excitation calculations in the framework of the cascade evaporation model (CEM) whereas an analogous calculation forα-particles completely fails. Upper limits for an additional scission component of proton emission are given.     

Angular distribution of photofission fragment of even-even and odd mass nuclei studies using SSNTD technique

Fission fragment angular distribution measurements of even-even (²³²Th) and odd mass (²³⁷Np) nuclei were carried out using bremsstrahlung radiation in the energy range 7.4 to 9.2 MeV from variable energy microtron at Mangalore University. In the present work SSNTD lexan polycarbonate films were used to detect the fission tracks from both even-even (²³²Th) and odd mass (²³⁷Np) nuclei. From the knowledge of track density formed from photofission reaction of ²³²Th and ²³⁷Np, angular distribution of fission fragments was measured. The results obtained are discussed on the basis of Age Bohr theory in this paper.     

Some special features of the fragmentation of a relativistic nucleus 11B in photoemulsion

Events where two doubly charged fragments are directly formed from a fragmenting nucleus ¹¹B of momentum 2.75 GeV/c per nucleon are separated, the cascade production of such fragments via the fragmentation channel ⁸Be → 2α being avoided. Where possible, the mass numbers of these doubly charged fragments are determined by using a signal from Coulomb scattering in photoemulsion. It is found that the measured fraction of the isotope ⁶He is (9.6 ± 1.5)%, while its calculated probability is about 12%. The transverse-momentum distributions obtained experimentally for the isotopes ³He and ⁴He are compatible with a Rayleigh distribution characterized by constant values of 110.4 ± 6.0 and 127.5 ± 6.0 MeV/c, respectively. These features of the distributions agree with a purely statistical mechanism of the fragmentation of ¹¹B nuclei.     

Excitation energy dependence of fragment characteristics for the photofission of 232Th

Independent and cumulative product yields were measured for the photofission of ²³²Th with bremsstrahlung with endpoint energies 6.5, 7.0, 8.0, 11.0, 12.0, and 14.0 MeV, applying γ spectrometric techniques on catcherfoils and pneumatically transported ²³²Th-samples. The independent heavy fragment yields for the fission of the ²³²Th compound nucleus at excitation energies in the vicinity of the fission barrier were deduced. Postneutron mass, isobaric charge, isotopic mass distributions, isotonic and elemental yield distributions and proton odd-even effects were obtained from these independent yields. In the mass distributions a maximum yield is observed for mass splits with heavy fragments in the region of A = 142, corresponding with a high production of Ba(Z = 56) - isotopes. A slightly increased yield is also observed for mass splits with heavy mass in the vicinity of A = 134. The latter effect increases with increasing compound nucleus excitation energy. The similarity between the mass distributions of the N = 142 fissioning systems ²³²Th, ²³⁴U and ²³⁶Pu is striking. For low excitation energy the proton odd-even effect in the element distributions amounts to 30%, while on the other hand no sizeable neutron odd-even effect could be deduced from the isotonic distributions. The proton odd-even effects remain constant up to compound nucleus excitation energies of about 7.85 MeV. For higher compound nucleus excitation energies the proton odd-even effect drops rapidly. A possible explanation of these observations in terms of pair breaking at the outer barrier is proposed.     

Systematics of the power law parameter and minimum angular momenta for fragment production

The element yield distributionsσ(Z) of intermediate mass fragments from proton, helium, and heavy-ion induced reactions exhibit a universal behaviour as a function of the bombarding energy. The power law parameterτ, obtained from fits withσ(Z)∝σ ^-τ, falls monotonically with increasing projectile energy E_lab and reaches a saturation valueτ?2.0 atE _lab?2GeV. It is suggested that the behaviour at low bombarding energies is caused by a dynamical hindrance of the fragment emission at low angular momentum.