Ternary fission yields of 241Pu(nth,f)

Ternary events in the thermal neutron induced fission of ²⁴¹Pu(n,f) were studied with the recoil separator LOHENGRIN at the high-flux reactor of the Institut Laue Langevin in Grenoble. Yields and energy distributions could be determined for most isotopes of the elements hydrogen to oxygen. Also several heavier nuclei up to ³⁰Mg could be observed. Yields were measured for 42 isotopes, for further 17 isotopes upper limits could be deduced. For the first time the halo nuclei ¹¹Li, ¹⁴Be and ¹⁹C were found in neutron induced fission with yields of some 10⁻¹⁰ per fission.     

Measurement of charge distributions for 229Th(nth,f) and 232U(nth,f)

A gas ΔE ? E_R telescope has been used to measure charge yields and their correlations with kinetic energies for ²²⁹Th and ²³²U. Even-charge yields are enhanced compared with odd-charge yields for both fissioning systems; this enhancement increases for events with higher kinetic energy. The mean odd-even effect $\text{δ}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>p</mtext>}}\text{is}\text{= (40±4)\%}\text{for}{}^{229}\text{Th}$; it is $\text{(21 ± 3)\%}\text{for}{}^{232}\text{U-the same as for}{}^{233}\text{U}\text{((22.1±2.1)\%)}\text{and}{}^{235}\text{U}\text{((23.7±0.7)\%)}$. The energy-integrated δ_p and δ_p for different energy windows, vary strongly as a function of charge (Z) due to the underlying shells. The δ_p averaged over Z increases fast with kinetic energy, contrary to the existing results for ²³³U and ²³⁵U, where δ_p flattens off at low energies. For both systems, the most probable kinetic energy ē shows a strong odd-even stagger; the mean odd-even effect on energy, $\text{δE}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>K</mtext>}}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>o?e</mtext>}}\text{,}\text{is}\text{1.4 ± 0.3}\text{MeV for}{}^{229}\text{Th, and}\text{1.7±0.4}\text{MeV for}{}^{232}\text{U}\text{—}$ the latter is about twice the value for ${}^{233}\text{U}\text{(0.95 ± 0.09}\text{MeV}\text{)}\text{and}{}^{235}\text{U}\text{(0.7}\text{MeV}\text{)}$. These results are discussed in terms of the existing models.     

Post-neutron mass distribution for 238Pu(nth,f)

The yields of 51 fission products in 36 mass chains produced in ²³⁸Pu(n_th, f) have been determined via γ-ray spectroscopy. The mean number of neutrons per fission was found to be 〈ν_T〉 = 2.5 ± 0.2. A mean proton odd-even effect δ_p = (14 ± 3)% was also deduced for 9 mass chains. These results are discussed in terms of the existing data on other fissioning nuclei.     

Application of fission track detection technique for determination of uranium in liquids

A high sensitive (10⁻⁴ ppm) fission track detection technique for determination of uranium in liquids was developed. The technique was applied for the measurement of uranium concentration in extraction phosphoric acid and phosphorus fertilizer, viz., ammophous.     

Calculation of prompt fission neutron spectrum for 233U（n,f）reaction by the semi-empirical method~

The prompt fission neutron spectra for the neutron-induced fission of ²³³U for low energy neutrons (below 6 MeV) are calculated using nuclear evaporation theory with a semi-empirical method, in which the partition of the total excitation energy between the fission fragments for the n_th+²³³U fission reactions is determined by the available experimental and evaluation data. The calculated prompt fission neutron spectra agree well with the experimental data. The proportions of high-energy neutrons of prompt fission neutron spectrum versus incident neutron energies are investigated with the theoretical spectra, and the results are consistent with the systematics. The semi-empirical method could be a useful tool for the prompt evaluation of fission neutron spectra.     

Characteristics of mass and nuclear charge distributions of229th(nth,f). implications for fission dynamics

The mass and nuclear charge distributions of fission fragments from²²⁹Th(n_{th, f}) have been measured at several kinetic energies with the mass spectrometer Lohengrin (ILL-Grenoble). The average proton e-o effect, which reaches 41%, induces large oscillations in the parameters of the isotopic charge distribution. A comparison of the data from different fissile nuclei shows the importance of the last stage of the process for intrinsic excitations.     

Cold deformed fission in232U(n,f) and239Pu(n,f)

Masses, charges and kinetic energies of light fission fragments from the reactions²³²U(n, f) and²³⁹Pu(n, f) induced by thermal neutrons have been measured on the Cosi fan tutte spectrometer of the Institut Laue-Langevin in Grenoble. Both at very high and very low kinetic energies marked fine structures in the mass yields and odd-even staggerings in the charge yields are observed. In the framework of a scission point model the results are shown to point to compact and deformed scission configurations, respectively, where at scission the fragments carry no intrinsic excitation energy. The two limiting processes may, therefore, be called cold compact fission (usually known as cold fission) and cold deformed fission. The latter process as a general phenomenon of low energy fission has come into focus only recently.     

Gamma-ray multiplicities and fission modes in (208)Pb((18)O,f)

Two components in the M(gamma)(M) distribution were established in detailed measurements of mean gamma-ray multiplicities from fission fragments of (226)Th. For the first time in the M(gamma)(M) dependencies we were able to distinguish two components associated with primary and the final (after the neutron evaporation) fission fragments, and show that at the scission point M(gamma) is extremely sensitive to symmetric and asymmetric modes of fission. Theoretical calculations of the pre-scission shapes of the fissioning nuclei confirm our conclusions.     

Two-dimensional Langevin modeling of fission dynamics of the excited compound nuclei ~(188)Pt,~(227)Pa and ~(251)Es

A stochastic approach based on one-and two-dimensional Langevin equations is applied to calculate the pre-scission neutron multiplicity,fission probability,anisotropy of fission fragment angular distribution,fission cross section and the evaporation cross section for the compound nuclei ~(188)Pt,~(227)Pa and ~(251)Es in an intermediate range of excitation energies.The chaos weighted wall and window friction formula are used in the Langevin equations.The elongation parameter,c,is used as the first dimension and projection of the total spin of the compound nucleus onto the symmetry axis,K,considered as the second dimension in Langevin dynamical calculations.A constant dissipation coefficient of K,γk=0.077(MeV zs)~(-1/2),is used in two-dimensional calculations to reproduce the above mentioned experimental data.Comparison of the theoretical results of the pre-scission neutron multiplicity,fission probability,fission cross section and the evaporation cross section with the experimental data shows that the results of two-dimensional calculations are in better agreement with the experimental data.Furthermore,it is shown that the two-dimensional Langevin equations together with a dissipation coefficient of K,γk=0.077(MeV zs)~(-1/2),can satisfactorily reproduce the anisotropy of fission fragment angular distribution for the heavy compound nucleus(251)~Es.However,a larger value of γk=0.250(MeV zs)~(-1/2)is needed to reproduce the anisotropy of fission fragment angular distribution for the lighter compound nucleus(227)Pa.     

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.     

Multi-modal calculations of prompt fission neutrons from 238U（n,f） at low induced energy

Properties of prompt fission neutrons from ²³⁸U(n, f) are calculated for incident neutron energies below 6 MeV using the multi-modal model, including the prompt fission neutron spectrum, the average prompt fission neutron multiplicity, and the prompt fission neutron multiplicity as a function of the fission fragment mass υ(A) (usually named “sawtooth” data) The three most dominant fission modes are taken into account. The model parameters are determined on the basis of experimental fission fragment data. The predicted results are in good agreement with the experimental data.     

Isomeric yield ratio of fission product148Pr in235U(n th,f)

The independent isomeric yield ratio of¹⁴⁸Pr in thermal neutron induced fission of²³⁵U has been determined experimentally. The fission product¹⁴⁸Pr isomers, extracted directly by on-line mass separation technique, have high-spin (J=4) to low-spin (J=1) isomer ratio of 0.14±0.04 using growth and decay analysis. Statistical model calculation of isomeric yeild ratio using constant initial r.m.s. angular momentumJ _rms can not reproduce either present results or other recent measurements of isomer ratios. TheJ _rms derived from isomer ratio data in all thermal fissioning systems indicate a wide spread ranging from 2? to 13?. No clear correlation betweenJ _rms and isomeric spins or number of neutrons of isomers is found, thus, more model refinements and experimental works should be done in order to evaluate independent isomeric yields correctly.     

Research on the prompt neutron multiplicity of fission fragments for 235U(n,f)

According to some experimental and evaluated data, the total excitation energy partitioning way between both of the fission fragments was given with a semi-empirical method. With the calculated energy partitioning way, the prompt neutron multiplicity as a function of fragment mass, (-v)(A), for neutron-induced fission of 235U at En=0.0253 eV, 3 MeV, and 5 MeV was calculated. The results are checked with the total average prompt neutron multiplicities (-v) and compared with the experimental and evaluated data.     

Calculation of prompt fission neutron spectra for 235U(n,f)

The prompt fission neutron spectra for the neutron-induced fission of ²³⁵U at E_n < 5 MeV are calculated using nuclear evaporation theory with a semi-empirical model, in which the nonconstant and constant temperatures related to the Fermi gas model are taken into account. The calculated prompt fission neutron spectra reproduce the experimental data well. For the n(thermal)+²³⁵U reaction, the average nuclear temperature of the fission fragment, and the probability distribution of the nuclear temperature, are discussed and compared with the Los Alamos model. The energy carried away by γ rays emitted from each fragment is also obtained and the results are in good agreement with the existing experimental data.