Investigation of the <Superscript>232</Superscript>Th and <Superscript>238</Superscript>U photofission

The average angular momenta of the ⁸⁴Br, ¹³²Sb, ¹³³Te, and ¹³⁵Xe fission fragments, produced as a result of ²³²Th and ²³⁸U photofission by bremmsstrahlung γ photons with an endpoint energy of 8.5 MeV, have been determined by measuring the isomeric yield ratios. The experimental isomeric yield ratios have been calculated taking into account the contribution from β decay of isobaric nuclei to the yields of isotopes studied.     

Isomeric yield ratios of <Superscript>238</Superscript>U and <Superscript>232</Superscript>Th photofission products

The isomeric ratios of fragments of photofission of ²³⁸U and ²³²Th have been determined experimentally at the bremsstrahlung end-point of 50 and 3500 MeV. Results of measurements enabled us to estimate the mean angular momenta of primary fragments and to compare them with the published data.     

Investigation of <Superscript>235</Superscript>U and <Superscript>239</Superscript>Pu photofission

Average angular momenta of fission fragments ⁹⁰Rb, ^129,130,132Sb, ^131,133Te, ^134,136I, and ¹³⁵Xe produced in photofission of ²³⁵U and ²³⁹Pu by bremsstrahlung γ rays with a threshold energy of 9.6 and 9.8 MeV, respectively, were determined by measuring the isomeric yield ratios. The experimental values of the isomeric ratios were calculated with account of the contribution from β decay of isobaric nuclei in the yields of the studied isotopes.     

238U photofission in the energy region of the giant dipole resonance

²³⁸U photofission is studied in the region of nuclear excitation energies that extends up to 20 MeV. Independent photofission-fragment yields and cumulative photofission-fragment yields after the emission of fast neutrons are measured by gamma-spectroscopy methods. The mass distributions of photofission fragments are obtained at the endpoint bremsstrahlung energies of 19.5, 29.1, 48.3, and 67.7 MeV. A comparative analysis of the behavior of the symmetric and asymmetric modes of photoninduced fission as a function of the average excitation energy of the fissioning nucleus is performed. The integrated yield of ²³⁸U photofission is calculated, and the evaluated cross sections for photofission and for photoneutron reactions are discussed.     

Photofission cross sections of 232Th and 236U from threshold to 8 MeV

Measurements of the photofission cross sections of ²³²Th and ²³⁶U for an energy range of 5.0 to 8.0 MeV are reported. The Compton scattering facility at the Ames Laboratory Research Reactor was used for these measurements. Resonance structure at γ-ray energies of 6.3 and 7.6 MeV is observed in ²³²Th and at 5.3, 6.0, 6.5, and 7.5 MeV in ²³⁶U. The present results are compared with other photofission experiments and particle-induced fission studies. Suggestions for the interpretation of the resonances are given on the basis of Bohr's fission-channel theory and the existence of a double-humped fission barrier.     

Cross section of metastable state population in the photoneutron decay of the E1 giant resonance for 110Pd, 112Cd, and 113In nuclei

The cross sections of isomeric state excitation in the ¹¹⁰Pd(γ, n)^109m Pd, ¹¹²Cd(γ, n)^111m Cd, and ¹¹³In(γ, n)^112m In reactions have been investigated. The measurements were performed in the γ-ray energy range 9–18 MeV with a step ΔE = 0.5 MeV. The dependences of the isomeric ratios on the γ-ray energy are obtained. The experimental data are compared with the results of calculations within the cascade-evaporation model.     

Symmetric and asymmetric modes of <Superscript>232</Superscript>Th photofission at intermediate energies

Yields of fragments originating from ²³²Th photofission were measured at bremsstrahlungphoton endpoint energies of 50 and 3500 MeV. Charge and mass distributions of fission fragments were analyzed. On the basis of the model of multimode fission, symmetric and asymmetric channels are singled out in ²³²Th photofission at intermediate energies. This decomposition made it possible to estimate the contributions of various fission components and the fissility of ²³²Th.     

Multimode approximation for 238U photofission at intermediate energies

The yields of products originating from ²³⁸U photofission are measured at the bremsstrahlung endpoint energies of 50 and 3500 MeV. Charge and mass distributions of fission fragments are obtained. Symmetric and asymmetric channels in ²³⁸U photofission are singled out on the basis of the model of multimode fission. This decomposition makes it possible to estimate the contributions of various fission components and to calculate the fissilities of ²³⁸U in the photon-energy regions under study.     

Angular momentum transfer in incomplete fusion

Isomeric cross-section ratios of evaporation residues formed in¹²C+⁹³Nb and¹⁶O+⁸⁹Y reactions were measured by recoil catcher technique followed by off-line γ-ray spectrometry in the beam energy range of 55.7–77.5 MeV for¹²C and 68–81 MeV for¹⁶O. The isomeric cross-section ratios were resolved into that for complete and incomplete fusion reactions. The angular momentum of the intermediate nucleus formed in incomplete fusion was deduced from the isomeric cross-section ratio by considering the statistical deexcitation of the incompletely fused composite nucleus. The data show that incomplete fusion is associated with angular momenta slightly smaller than critical angular momentum for complete fusion, indicating the deeper interpenetration of projectile and target nuclei than that in peripheral collisions.     

Symmetric and asymmetric yields in the photofission of232Th,235U,238U and239Pu

Measurements are presented for the mass and energy distributions of fragments from the photofission of²³²Th,²³⁵U,²³⁸U and²³⁹Pu. The experiments were performed for bremsstrahlung endpoint energies between 15 and 55 MeV, using silicon surface barrier detectors. The results are discussed with respect to the competition between the symmetric and asymmetric fission modes.     

Investigation of the near-threshold (γ, n) reaction on the 116Cd and 121Sb nuclei

Isomeric yield ratios of ^115m,g Cd and ^120m,g Sb were measured in the (γ, n) reaction in the near-threshold region at γ-ray energies of 9.6, 9.8, 10.0, and 10.5 MeV. Experimental values of the isomeric yield ratios were compared with theoretical values calculated using the TALYS-1.0 program package. The (γ, n) reaction is shown to have a statistical character in the excitation region of residual nuclei 0.3–1.5 MeV.     

Lichtausbeute von Naphthalin bei planarem Channeling und Blocking von 4,50MeV-α-Teilchen

The 12^? isomeric state of²⁰⁶Tl formerly produced by charged particles, was produced in 14 MeV neutron induced (n, α) reaction on Bi. An intensity balance was deduced from known gamma lines and several new weak gamma lines were observed. Theoretical considerations on the production probability of the isomeric state and on some intensity ratios are given. The half-life of the isomeric state was determined in good agreement with former measurements.     

Study of the excitation of high-spin isomers in <Superscript>190</Superscript>Ir and <Superscript>196,198</Superscript>Au in the near-threshold region

The isomeric ratios of the yields for ^190m,g Ir and ^196m,g Au have been measured in the (γ,n) reaction in the near-threshold region at γ-ray energies of 12 and 12.5 MeV. The isomeric ratios for ^198m,g Au have been measured in the (d,p) and (n,γ) reactions. The statistical nature of the (γ,n) and (n,γ) reactions is shown.     

Cross sections for the photofission of <Superscript>243</Superscript>Cm, <Superscript>245</Superscript>Cm, <Superscript>249</Superscript>Bk,and <Superscript>249</Superscript>Cf isotopes in the energy range from the threshold to 10–12 MeV

The relative method was used to measure the photofission cross sections for ²⁴³Cm and ²⁴⁹Cf isotopes in the energy range from 6 to 12 MeV, for ²⁴⁵Cm in the energy range from 5 to 10 MeV, and for ²⁴⁹Bk in the energy range from 5.5 to 10 MeV. The measurements were performed with an energy step of 50 to 200 keV by using the microtron installed at the Institute of Physics and Power Engineering (Obninsk). The cross section for ²³⁸U photofission was used as a reference in these measurements. Data on the cross sections for ²⁴³Cm, ²⁴⁵Cm, and ²⁴⁹Bk photofission were obtained for the first time, while data on the cross section for ²⁴⁹Cf photofission were obtained for the first time only in the energyregion E<10 MeV. The data on the ²⁴⁵Cm nucleus suggest that, in the energy region around 6 MeV, the cross section for its photofission has a maximum, which is likely to be due to the low-energy resonance structure of the dipole-photoabsorption cross section. For ²⁴⁹Cf, an anomalously large value of the photo fission cross section is observed in the region of the first maximum of the giant dipole resonance (E≈11 MeV). By comparing the energy dependences obtained for the fissilities of the ²⁴³Cm and ²⁴⁹Bk isotopes from photofission data with the fissilities from direct-reaction data, it is found that the observed fission thresholds agree and that there is a plateau-like dependence at energies above 7.5 MeV. For the ²⁴⁵Cm and ²⁴⁹Cf nuclei, there are no similar data for performing such a comparison. Data on the fissilities as obtained from the present series of relative measurements that employ the microtron bremsstrahlung spectrum are analyzed.     

Isomeric ratios in reactions induced by gamma rays and fast neutrons in the isotopes of Re,Ir, and Au

Isomeric ratios were measured in the (γ, n) and (n, 2n) reactions leading to the formation of ¹⁸⁴Re, ¹⁹⁰Ir, and ¹⁹⁶Au odd-odd nuclides. The measurements were performed by the activation method implemented for Re, Ir, and Au samples of natural isotopic composition that were irradiated with 14.7-MeV neutrons and bremsstrahlung photons of endpoint energy 22 MeV. Isomeric-and ground-state nuclei formed in these reactions were identified by their x-or γ-ray spectra and by their half-lives. The isomeric ratios were calculated on the basis of the statistical model, and the results were compared with experimental data, where by it was possible to determine parameters that characterize the dependence of the level density on the excitation energy and angular momentum. The effect of the nuclear structure on these parameters is discussed.     

Cross sections and isomeric ratios in the photoproduction of 44Sc from heavier nuclei

The yields and isomeric yield ratios in the photoproduction of⁴⁴Sc from ⁴⁵Sc, ⁵⁵Mn, Fe, ⁵⁹Co and ⁷⁵As have been measured by activation methods in the energy region 100–800 MeV. Mean cross sections and isomeric cross-section ratios in the energy region 250–800 MeV have been deduced and the number of valence neutrons available for the (γ, n) reaction estimated. The experimental cross sections are compared both to cascade-evaporation calculations based upon the free-nucleon photopion cross sections and to cross sections calculated with a semi-empirical formula. The isomeric cross-section ratios are compared to calculations based on the statistical formalism by Huizenga and Vandenbosch together with cascade-evaporation theory.     

Isomer ratio measurements for the reaction 29Si(18O,p2n)44m, 44gSc

Isomer ratios for the reaction ²⁹Si(¹⁸O, p2n)^44gSc, ^44gSc have been deduced from activity measurements for projectile energies between 30 and 99 MeV. Statistical model calculations show that the isomer ratio dependence on projectile energy up to about 80 MeV can be adequately described by assuming a fixed ratio of quadrupole to dipole γ-ray strengths. Such a ratio of E2/E1 strengths agrees with corresponding values deduced from the literature. The values of the γ-ray strength ratios needed to fit the experimental isomer ratios are extremely sensitive to the relative amounts of quadrupole γ-ray admixture and to the presence of discrete levels other than those which conform to the yrast line.     

Photofission of americium isotopes in the energy range 6–12 MeV

By means of the reference method, the cross sections for the fission of the ²⁴¹Am, ^242m Am, and ²⁴³Am isotopes were measured at the microtron of the Institute of Physics and Power Engineering (Obninsk). These measurements, which employed the cross section for ²³⁸U photofission as a reference, covered the energy range 6–12 MeV scanned with a variable step of 50 to 200 keV. Data on ^242m Am photofission in the energy range 6–12 MeV and ²⁴³Am photofission in the region between 6 and 7 MeV were obtained for the first time. New results for ²⁴¹Am reveal that the cross sections for ²⁴¹Am photofission from previous studies of the present author were exaggerated. The new results for this isotope comply well with data of other authors. It is not confirmed that the fissility of ²⁴¹Am is less than the fissility of ²⁴³Am. The energy dependences of the fissilities of the americium isotopes from photofission data are compared with those that were obtained for these fissilities from data on direct reactions like ²⁴⁰Pu(³He, df)²⁴¹Am. The results of this comparison show that the observed fission thresholds and the plateaulike dependences at energies above 7.5 MeV from the two types of studies comply well. The present data show evidence that, in the energy region around 6 MeV, the photofission cross section has a maximum, which is associated, in all probability, with the low-energy resonance structure in the cross section for dipole photoabsorption.     

Photofission of 238Pu, 240Pu, and 242Pu in the energy range 5–10 MeV

The cross sections for the photofission of plutonium isotopes ²³⁸Pu, ²⁴⁰Pu, and ²⁴²Pu in the energy range 5–10 MeV have been measured by using a beam of bremsstrahlung photons from the microtron installed at the Institute of Physics and Power Engineering (Obninsk). The energy regions below the fission barrier and above 6 MeV have been scanned with pitches of 0.05 and 0.1 MeV, respectively. In deriving the absolute cross section for ²³⁸Pu photofission, ²³⁸U photofission has been employed as a reference reaction. In measurements involving ²⁴⁰Pu and ²⁴²Pu nuclei, the neptunium isotope ²³⁷Np, which is characterized by a more regular dependence of the photofission cross section on excitation energy than ²³⁸U, has been chosen for the first time as a reference nucleus. The measured cross sections as functions of energy show resonance structures in the vicinity of the fission threshold that are consistent with those previously observed in the energy dependences of fissilities for corresponding direct reactions. The partial-wave cross sections for the J ^π K = 1^?0, 1^?1, and 2⁺0 photofission channels have been determined as functions of energy. At energies below some 5.5 MeV, the total cross section for photofission of each plutonium isotope being studied receives a significant contribution from quadrupole interaction. Within the one-dimensional model of a two-humped fission barrier, the parameters of the barriers for ²³⁸Pu, ²⁴⁰Pu, and ²⁴²Pu have been extracted from data and have then been compared with estimates based on previous measurements.     

High-spin states in 58Ni

High-spin states of ⁵⁸Ni were investigated via the study of in-beam γ-ray induced by the compound reaction ⁴⁸Ti(¹²C, 2n)⁵⁸Ni between 26 and 48 MeV. The energies and decay modes of these levels were determined from the analysis of γ-γ coincidence measurements at 35 MeV. The most intense lines in the ⁵⁸Ni γ-ray spectrum correspond to a cascade to the ground state, through levels at 1.454, 2.459, 3.619 and 4.381 MeV, also fed in other reactions, and by two previously unknown levels at 5.125 and 5.662 MeV; the spin assignments based on the present study are (apart from the ground state) 2, 4, 4, 5, 6 and 7 respectively for these levels. The first three were already known and the last three are new. The mixing ratios for the transitions between these levels are also determined. We observe also the same cascade in the reaction ⁵⁶Fe(α, 2n)⁵⁸Ni at an incident energy 18–24 MeV. Comparisons with other reactions, previous studies and recent shell-model calculations are presented.