Evaluating the yield of transuranium nuclides with masses of up to A = 270 via pulsed nucleosynthesis

A model of the creation of transuranium isotopes of up to A = 270 under conditions of pulse nucleosynthesis in a neutron flux with densities of up to ??10²⁵ neutron cm^?2 is considered. The pulse process allows us to divide it in time into two stages: the process of multiple neutron captures (t < 10^?6 s) and the subsequent ??-decay of neutron-excess nuclei. The modeling of the transuranium yields takes into account the adiabatic character of the process, the probability of delayed fission, and the emission of delayed neutrons. A target with a binary composition of ²³⁸U and ²³⁹Pu, ²⁴⁸Cm, and ²⁵¹Cf isotopes is used to predict the yields of heavy and superheavy isotopes.     

The peninsula of neutron nuclear stability in the vicinity of N = 258

The properties of extremely neutron-excessive nuclei with Z ?? 70, including the region of transuranium elements, are calculated beyond the previously theoretically known neutron drip line (NDL). The calculations are based on the Hartree-Fock approach using Skyrme forces (SkM*, SkI2, SLy4, Ska) with allowance for axial deformation and pairings in the BCS approximation. It is shown that the series of isotones with neutron number N = 258 outside of 2n NDL forms a peninsula of stable nuclei (PSN) with respect to the emission of one neutron. For SkM* forces, a PSN is formed by ³⁴⁴Rn, ³⁴⁶Ra, ³⁴⁸Th, and ³⁵⁰U nuclides.     

Production of transuranium elements in a binary model under conditions of pulse nucleosynthesis

A model for the production of transuranium isotopes under the conditions of pulse nucleosynthesis in a powerful neutron flux (∼10²⁴−10²⁵ neutron cm⁻²) is considered. The explosive nature of the process allows us to separate it into two parts: the process of multiple neutron captures (t < 10⁻⁶ s) and the process of the subsequent β-decays for neutron-rich nuclei. The model of multiple captures neutron includes a variation of the cross section of the (n, γ) reaction as a result of the adiabatic expansion of the explosive nucleosynthesis area. A binary mixture of ²³⁸U and ²³⁹Pu is used as the initial isotope composition.     

Cold fission as heavy ion emission

The last version of the analytical superasymmetric fission model is applied to study cold fission processes. Strong shell effects are present either in one or both fission fragments. A smooth behaviour is observed when the proton or the neutron numbers are changed by four units. IncreasingZ andN, in the transuranium region, a sharp transition from asymmetry with a large peak-to-valley ratio to symmetry atZ=100 and/orN=164 is obtained. The transition toward asymmetry at higherZ andN is much smoother. The most probable cold fission light fragments from²³⁴U,²³⁶U,²³⁹Np and²⁴⁰Pu are¹⁰⁰Zr,¹⁰⁴Mo,¹⁰⁶Mo and¹⁰⁶Mo, respectively, in good agreement with experimental data. The unified treatment of alpha decay, heavy ion radioactivities and cold fission is illustrated for²³⁴U — the first nucleus in which all three groups have been already observed.     

Production of Transuranium Nuclides in Pulsed Neutron Fluxes from Thermonuclear Explosions

The production of transuranium nuclides in pulsed neutron fluxes from thermonuclear explosions has been studied within the kinetic model of the astrophysical r-process taking into account the time dependence of external parameters and processes accompanying the beta decay of neutron-rich nuclei. Neutron fluxes depending on the time in the range of ~10^–6 s have been simulated within the developed adiabatic binary model. The probabilities of beta-delayed processes have been calculated within the microscopic theory of finite Fermi systems. The yields of transuranium nuclides Y(A) have been calculated for three experimental thermonuclear explosions Mike (Y_M), Par (Y_P), and Barbel (Y_B) (United States). The rms deviations of the calculations from experimental data are 91, 33, and 29% for Y_M, Y_P, and Y_B, respectively. These deviations are much smaller than those for other known calculations and are comparable with the proposed exponential approximation ensuring rms deviations of 56, 86.8, and 60.2% for Y_M, Y_P, and Y_B, respectively. The even–odd anomaly in the observed yields of heavy nuclei is explained by the dominant effect of processes accompanying the beta decay of heavy neutron-rich isotopes.     

Calculation of transuranium element synthesis in intensive neutron fluxes under adiabatic conditions

The creation of transuranium isotopes based on intense pulsed nucleosynthesis is considered. The model of multiple neutron captures takes into account the variation of the (n, γ)-cross section resulting from adiabatic expansion of the explosive nucleosynthesis area. The calculated yields of transuranium isotopes obtained under conditions close to a “Par” nuclear explosion, enable us to improve the agreement between the model results and the experimental data within the wide range of atomic mass number A = 248–257, provided the adiabatic conditions are taken into account.     

Neutron emission in interactions of 1H, 2H, 4He, and 12C nuclei with lead nuclei at 1–2 GeV per nucleon

The double differential cross sections for neutron production that were measured by the time-of-flight method for interactions of 2-GeV p and d, 4-GeV ⁴He, and 24-GeV ¹²C with Pb nuclei are discussed. In the phenomenological model of four moving sources, the neutron energy distribution shape at emission angles above 30° is well reproduced with the temperature parameters for all sources that are almost independent of the type and the energy of incident nuclei. Using the developed model, we estimate the mean neutron multiplicity and the energy removed by neutron emission.     

Optical model calculation for neutron capture in the mass region A=40–70

Calculations of thes, p andd-wave neutron strength functions based on the spherical optical model have been performed for the mass region A=40–70. The aim was to investigate the radiative neutron capture observed in this region leading to final states with spin J=5^?/2 and J=7^?/2. Results of the calculation indicate thatd-wave neutron capture followed by E1 radiative decay is the most likely explanation of the process.     

Beta-delayed neutron emission from93–100Rb to excited states in the residual Sr isotopes

Beta-delayed neutron emission from the precursors^93–100Rb to excited states in the residual nuclei^92–99Sr has been measured by means ofγ-ray and neutron spectroscopy. In general, considerable neutron feeding of excited final states is observed. The experimental branching ratios (P _n ⁱ ) are compared to predictions from statistical model calculations. It is demonstrated that the main parameter affecting theP _n ⁱ -values is the shape of theβ-strength function (S _β). For several Rb isotopes hindrance, respectively enhancement of neutron branches to specific final states is observed giving evidence for the persistence of intermediate structure of the neutron-emitting states. By the example of⁹⁸Rb it is shown that a few integralβ-delayed neutron properties may be sufficient to derive first estimates on the real shape ofS _β above the neutron binding energy. This result is of importance for exotic nuclei where detailed spectroscopic investigations are precluded.     

β delayed emission of a proton by a one-neutron halo nucleus

Some one-neutron halo nuclei can emit a proton in a β decay of the halo neutron. The branching ratio towards this rare decay mode is calculated within a two-body potential model of the initial core + neutron bound state and final core + proton scattering states. The decay probability per second is evaluated for the ¹¹Be, ¹⁹C and ³¹Ne one-neutron halo nuclei. It is very sensitive to the neutron separation energy.     

Statistical model calculations for medium and strong absorption in theA=90 region

Calculations of elastic, inelastic and total neutron cross sections as well as of (p, n) reaction cross sections in theA=90 mass region have been performed, using the statistical model of Hofmann, Richert, Tepel and Weidenmüller. The optical model parameters were obtained by Finckh et al. from the neutron decay of IAR in the⁹¹Zr(p, n)⁹¹ Nb reaction. The calculations are in very good agreement with the published experimental data. The optical model parameters proved to be satisfactory up to aboutE _n=8.0 MeV. The present work might be relevant to the evaluation of neutron data for reactor technology.     

Average neutron resonance parameters and radiative capture cross sectins for the isotopes of molybdenum

The neutron capture cross sections of the stable molybdenum isotopes have been measured with high energy resolution (ΔE/E ? 0.2 %), between 3 and 90 keV neutron energy, at the 40 m station of ORELA. Average resonance parameters are extracted for s- and p-wave resonances. The s-wave neutron strength function is close to 0.5 × 10^?4 for all isotopes, but the p-wave strength function exhibits a well defined peak near At~ 95.Both s- and p-wave radiative widths decrease markedly as further neutrons are added to the closed shell. The p-wave radiative widths are generally greater than the s-wave widths showing the presence of non-statistical γ-decay mechanisms.Valence neutron theory fails to explain the magnitude of the p- to s-wave radiative width disparity and doorway state processes are invoked. In particular, the data for ⁹⁸Mo appear to violate the usual valence theory, since the correlations between radiative and neutron strengths are small. Further, the radiative widths are smaller than can be explained on the valence model. An explanation for the loss of valence strength is advanced.Interpolated resonance parameters allow an estimate for the unknown cross section for ⁹⁹Mo(n, γ).     

Combining a langevin description of heavy-ion induced fission including neutron evaporation with the statistical model

A model is developed which combines dynamical (Langevin-) calculations with the Kramers modified statistical model in order to describe heavy-ion induced fission including neutron evaporation. In the example of the¹⁹F+¹⁸¹Ta collision, the energy dependence of fission probabilities, neutron multiplicities and (H.I.,xn)-cross sections is calculated and a fair agreement with the data is achieved with a reduced friction parameter ofβ=3^*10²¹sec^?1. We pay particular attention to the angular momentum dependence of the fusion-fission process.     

Disappearance of the hindrance ofE1-transition involving loosely bound nucleon

AlthoughE1-transition between levels below giant dipole resonance are almost always strongly hindered, there are several exceptions as observed in¹¹Be and¹³C. These fastE1-transitions are studied by adopting a simple “cutoff” model, in which the behavior of single particle wave functions only outside of the nucleus contribute. The results are compared with the particle-GDR coupling model. The reason why theE1-hindrance disappears is explained. We also investigate the direct capture of thermal neutron by⁴⁰Ca andN=82 nuclei, where similar situation is observed. Further, the implication of the direct capture in multiple neutron capture is discussed.     

Study of dependence of quasi-particle alignment on proton and neutron numbers in A = 80 region through g-factor measurements

Dependence of quasi-particle alignment on proton and neutron numbers has been studied in A?=?80 mass region through g-factor measurements by using TMF-IMPAD. The experimental results show that for the nuclides ⁸⁴Zr, ⁸⁵Zr and ⁸⁶Zr with Z?=?40 the proton alignment is followed by the neutron alignment in ⁸⁴Zr and ⁸⁵Zr, while the neutron alignment is followed by the proton alignment in ⁸⁶Zr, and for the nuclides ⁸²Sr, ⁸³Y, ⁸⁴Zr and ⁸⁵Nb with N?=?44 the proton aligns only in ⁸²Sr, the proton alignment occurs first that is followed by the neutron alignment in ⁸³Y and ⁸⁴Zr and the neutron alignment is followed by the proton alignment in ⁸⁵Nb. Proton and/or neutron alignments lead to different patterns of the g-factor variation with spin.     

Fermi sea effects on pion and kaon properties in the Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model

We study modifications of hadronic properties in dense nuclear and neutron matter, in the context of a generalized three-flavor Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model, focussing mainly on Fermi sea effects. In symmetric nuclear matter, we observe the splitting between K^± and the occurrence of a low-lying K⁻ branch at baryonic densities around 0.4 times normal nuclear matter density ϱ₀. This branch is not significantly affected by the inclusion of strange matter in the medium while the flavor asymmetry is preserved. A similar π⁺ branch is found in neutron matter at neutron densities around 0.3ϱ₀. These low-lying modes are particle-hole excitations of the Fermi sea and decrease smoothly with density. In any case, the vacuum does not exhibit signs of instability associated with boson condensation.     

Single-particle properties of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis> = 12 to <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis> = 20 silicon isotopes within the dispersive optical model

Experimental neutron and proton single-particle energies in N = 12 to N = 20 silicon isotopes and data on neutron and proton scattering by nuclei of the isotope ²⁸Si are analyzed on the basis of the dispersive optical model. Good agreement with available experimental data was attained. The occupation probabilities calculated for the single-particle states in question suggest a parallel-type filling of the 1d and 2s _1/2 neutron states in the isotopes ^{26,28,30,32,34}Si. The single-particle spectra being considered are indicative of the closure of the Z = 14 proton subshell in the isotopes ^30,32,34Si and the N = 20 neutron shell.     

A three-body calculation of the πd → πnp reaction in the Δ-resonance region

The reaction d(π^±, pπ^±)n at incident pion momentum 340 MeV/c is analyzed based on a relativistic three-body formalism. The contributions of the various reaction mechanisms such as impulse processes, pion multiple scattering and nucleon-nucleon final-state interactions are investigated for several cases of typical kinematics. The impulse term is dominant when the recoil neutron momentum is small. On the other hand, the NN final-state interaction is found to be relatively important when the recoil neutron momentum is large. The effects of dibaryon resonances which have been suggested in πd elastic scattering are estimated using a phenomenological model. Comparisons with other work are also made.     

Competition between few nucleon emission andγ-ray deexcitation for the reaction systems65Cu+87Rb and40Ar+110Pd

Bothγ-ray and neutron emission have been studied for the reaction systems⁶⁵Cu(237MeV) +⁸⁷Rb→¹⁵²Dy^* and⁴⁰Ar(158MeV)+¹¹⁰Pd→¹⁵⁰Gd^*. By using a sum spectrometer in coincidence with neutron counters, Ge(Li) or Nal detectors, we have measured the totalγ-ray energy and the average totalγ-multiplicity distributions as well as the neutron spectra for various exit channels. These measurements provide strong evidence for thermal equilibrium in reactions involving a small number of emitted neutrons (i.e.⁸⁷Rb(⁶⁵Cu,n or 2n)) at rather high excitation energy (～54MeV). This statistical emission of only a few neutrons is controlled by very strong y-ray competition: theγ-entry line is found not to be parallel to the yrast line. Instead the energy gap is about 8MeV for J～27? and rises to at least 13MeV for J～36?. There are some indications that the main part of the energy from this gap is removed by statisticalγ-ray cascades. The main features of the experimental data for both entrance channels are well reproduced by statistical model calculations with proper attention to the yrast line position and an adjustement of the dipoleγ-ray normalization coefficient. It is conceivable that the y-ray enhancement that we introduce may be related to a lack of knowledge of the absolute level densities at high energy and spin, or possibly to the presence of new or additional degrees of freedom that may enter into the competition between neutron andγ-ray emission.