Excitation functions of fusion reactions and neutron transfer in the interaction of 6He with 197Au and 206Pb

Excitation functions for evaporation residues in the reactions ¹⁹⁷Au(⁶He, xn)^203-xnTl, x = 2-7, and ²⁰⁶Pb(⁶He, 2n)²¹⁰Po, as well as for neutron transfer reactions for the production of ¹⁹⁶Au and ¹⁹⁸Au in the interaction of ⁶He with ¹⁹⁷Au were measured. The ⁶He beam was obtained from the accelerator complex for radioactive beams DRIBs (JINR). The maximum energy of the beam was about 10AMeV and the intensity reached 2×10⁷pps. The stacked-foil activation technique was used directly in the beam extracted from the cyclotron or in the focal plane of the magnetic spectrometer MSP-144. The identification of the reaction products was done by their radioactive γ- or α-decay. The fusion reaction with the evaporation of two neutrons was characterized by an increase in the cross-section compared to statistical model calculations. The analysis of the data in the framework of the statistical model for the decay of excited nuclei, which took into account the sequential fusion of ⁶He has shown good agreement between the experimental and the calculated values of the cross-sections in the case of sub-Coulomb-barrier fusion in the ²⁰⁶Pb + ⁶He reaction. An unusually large cross-section was observed below the Coulomb barrier for the production of ¹⁹⁸Au in the interaction of ⁶He with ¹⁹⁷Au. Possible mechanisms of formation and decay of transfer reaction products are discussed.     

The 33 and 43 MeV (3He, xnγ) exclusive reactions on targets from Zr to Pb

Exclusive neutron spectra for neutron multiplicities x = 3, 4 and 5 have been obtained using the 33 and 43 MeV (³He, xnγ) reactions on targets of Zr, Pd, Sn, Nd, Pt, Au, and Pb. The exclusive spectral shapes vary systematically with the energy available for neutron decay in the initial or precompound nucleus. The (³He, xnγ) reaction differs from the (αxnγ) reaction at the same beam energy per nucleon in its dependence on available energy, target, and incident angular momentum.     

Cross sections for 197Au(n, γ)198Au and 115In(n, γ)116mIn in the neutron energy region 2.0–7.7 MeV

The cross sections for the reactions ¹⁹⁷Au(n, γ)¹⁹⁸Au and ¹¹⁵In(n, γ)^116mIn have been measured with the activation method in the neutron energy region 2.0–7.7 MeV. The influence of background neutrons on the results was studied in considerable detail. The main problems are caused by low-energy neutrons produced by charged-particle reactions in the target material and secondary neutrons from nonelastic reactions in the sample and surrounding materials.The measured capture cross sections are generally lower than previous results and the deviation tends to increase with increasing neutron energy. The data are also compared with calculations based on the compound-nucleus model and quite good agreement is obtained.     

Results of search for heavy neutron clusters in nuclear fission

Experiments on search for heavy neutron clusters in the reaction of induced fission of ²³⁵U nuclei by neutrons have been carried out on the nuclear reactor, using the activation method. Two hypothetical reactions have been investigated: ⁹²Mo, ⁹⁴Mo, ⁹⁵Mo, ⁹⁶Mo, ⁹⁸Mo, ¹⁰⁰Mo(^xn, (x ? k)n)¹⁰⁵Mo → ¹⁰⁵Tc → ¹⁰⁵Ru → ¹⁰⁵Rh → ¹⁰⁵Pd, with a minimum transfer of 5 to 13 neutrons to activated Mo isotopes, and ¹²²Te(^xn, (x ? k)n)^{122 + k} Te → (β^?) → ^{122 + k} I, with a minimum transfer of 10 neutrons to activated ¹²²Te isotope. Radiochemical methods for selecting technetium isotopes from molybdenum and iodine from tellurium were used. For the first reaction, the upper limit on the probability of neutron cluster formation was found to be P _k ≤ 10^?8 per fission. For the second reaction, indications to the existence of heavy neutron clusters were obtained.     

Spins of198Au levels from the (n, γ) reaction using polarized neutrons and polarized197Au nuclei

The¹⁹⁷Au(n, γ) reaction was studied with the aid of polarized thermal neutron beams. Two kinds of experimental data were obtained: i) circular polarization of gamma rays of high energy due to capture of polarized neutrons by unoriented¹⁹⁷Au nuclei, and ii) angular distribution of such gamma rays observed after capture of polarized neutrons by polarized¹⁹⁷Au nuclei. Spins of several levels of¹⁹⁸Au could be uniquely assigned or could be restricted. The sign of the hyperfine field of Au in AuFe has been determined to be negative.     

Level scheme of198Au from γ-γ-coincidence measurements

Prompt and delayed low energyγ-γ-coincidences from the¹⁹⁷Au(n, γ)¹⁹⁸Au reaction have been measured with Ge(Li) and NaI(Tl) detectors at the external neutron beam of the research reactor (FRM) near Munich. A level scheme consistent with all available experimental data is constructed and discussed. The half-life of the 367.29 keV level was obtained with a time-to-amplitude converter to be 123 ± 4 ns. It determines the absolute transition probability of the 97.211 keVE1 transition.     

Some peculiarities in the interaction of 6He with 197Au and 206Pb

Excitation functions were measured for fusion followed by the evaporation of neutrons in the reactions ²⁰⁶Pb(⁶He, 2 _n )²¹⁰Po and ¹⁹⁷Au(⁶He, xn)^203−xn T1, where x = 2−7, as well as for the transfer reactions on a ¹⁹⁷Au target with the formation of the ¹⁹⁶Au, ¹⁹⁸Au, and ¹⁹⁹Au isotopes. The experiment was carried out at the Dubna Radioactive Ion Beams (DRIBs) complex of FLNR, JINR. The ⁶He beam intensity was about 5 × 10⁶ pps, the maximum energy being (60.3 ± 0.4) MeV. A significant increase in the cross section was observed below the Coulomb barrier for the fusion reaction with the evaporation of two neutrons compared to statistical model calculations. Unusual behavior for the production of ¹⁹⁸Au is observed, whereas the cross section for the formation of ¹⁹⁹Au is very low. The analysis of the data in the framework of the statistical model for the decay of excited nuclei, which took into account the sequential fusion of ⁶He, has shown good agreement between the experimental and calculated values of the cross sections for the case of sub-Coulomb-barrier fusion in the ²⁰⁶Pb + ⁶He reaction. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Gamma ray energies and 36Cl level scheme from the reaction 35Cl(n, γ)

The γ-ray spectrum emitted after thermal neutron capture in ³⁵Cl has been studied by use of the crystal and pair spectrometers installed at the ILL high flux reactor. We identified about 400 transitions in this reaction 326 of which were placed into the ³⁶C1 level scheme; several new states were found. The level energies up to 3.5 MeV were measured with a precision of 5–20 eV relative to the 412 keV ¹⁹⁸Au standard, those above 3.5 MeV with a precision of ¹⁰ppm. The neutron binding energy was determined to be E_B = 8579.68(9) keV.     

Quasielastic transfer reactions in 238U + 197Au and 197Au + 197Au collisions near the Coulomb barrier

Differential cross sections as a function of cm angle were measured for 1n- and 2n-transfer reactions in ²³⁸U + ¹⁹⁷ Au and¹⁹⁷ Au + ¹⁹⁷ Au collisions in the energy range from 0.881 V_c to 1.093 V_c and 0.825 V_c to 0.964 V_c, respectively. For ¹⁹⁸Au and ¹⁹⁹Au from the ²³⁸U + ¹⁹⁷Au collisions, for reduced distances of closest approach d _o 1.55 fm, the angular distributions at all bombarding energies are well described by the semiclassical theory. Equivalently, the transfer probabilities show the expected exponential decrease with increasing d _o over many orders of magnitude. For all other transfer products from ²³⁸U + ¹⁹⁷Au collisions, and for all transfer products from ¹⁹⁷Au + ¹⁹⁷Au collisions, markedly reduced cross sections relative to the semiclassical theory are observed for central collisions at all bombarding energies, even for values of d _o that are well outside the region where absorption is known to set in. Only for the more peripheral collisions, one observes agreement of the angular distributions (transfer probabilities) with the semiclassical expectations. The deviations for central collisions are absent for reactions with positive Q _gg values and scale roughly with increasingly negative values of Q _gg, i.e. with increasing Q-value mismatch. Channel coupling is proposed as the relevant mechanism.     

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.     

The sub-Coulomb197Au(t,d)198Au reaction

The influence of a deformation of the triton due to a non-s part of the ground state wave function on triton induced reactions is investigated. For this purpose, a measurement of the absolute cross section of the¹⁹⁷Au(t, d)¹⁹⁸Au reaction below 7 MeV was performed and compared with a finite range DWBA calculation. Implications on reactions with tritons during the primordial nucleosynthesis are briefly discussed.     

Nuclear orientation of198,199Au in Zn and Cd

Low temperature nuclear orientation experiments have been performed with samples prepared by simultaneous implantation of^198,199Au in Zn and Cd single crystals. From the data quadrupole interactions frequencies have been derived as: $$\begin{array}{l} v_Q ({}^{198}Au\underline {Zn} ) = + 162(3)MHz, v_Q ({}^{199}Au\underline {Zn} ) = + 127(2)MHz, \\ v_Q ({}^{198}Au\underline {Cd} ) = + 130(4)MHz and v_Q ({}^{199}Au\underline {Cd} ) = + 107(3)MHz. \\ \end{array}$$ The ratio of the quadrupole moments of¹⁹⁸Au and¹⁹⁹Au is derived asQ ¹⁹⁸/Q ¹⁹⁹=1.26(3).     

Excitation functions for complete-fusion and transfer reactions in <Superscript>4</Superscript>He interaction with <Superscript>197</Superscript>Au nuclei

Excitation functions are measured for the fusion reactions ¹⁹⁷Au(⁴He, xn)^201?xn Tl that are induced by alpha-particle interaction with gold nuclei in the energy range 14–36 MeV and in which x neutrons (0 ≤ x ≤ 3) are evaporated. The stack-activation technique was used to record and separate reaction products. Experimental data on the fusion reactions followed by evaporation of one to three neutrons agree with results of previous studies. For the radiative-capture reaction ¹⁹⁷Au(⁴He,γ)²⁰¹Tl, the upper limit on the cross section proved to be much lower. The excitation functions for the reactions subjected to measurements are compared with the results of calculations based on the statistical model and with the results of an experiment performed previously in a ⁶He beam.     

Defect characterization in CeO2−x at elevated temperatures—II: Neutron diffraction

Polycrystalline CeO_2?x(0? x? 0.21) has been examined at 900°C by means of neutron diffraction to characterize the predominant atomic point defects responsible for nonstoichiometry. The stoichiometry was controlled by adjusting the oxygen partial pressure between 1 and 10^?21 atm. For x ? 0.11, good agreement (residual ? 1.0%) is obtained by assuming a random distribution of defects on the oxygen sublattice. Vacancy concentrations obtained from the neutron-data analysis are in agreement with thermogravimetric determinations. Over this region of x, the temperature factors of both the cation and anion increase with an increase in vacancy concentration, which implies greater root-mean-square (r.m.s.) displacement of the atoms. However, for x > 0.11, the analysis of the neutron data indicates a smaller anion vibrational amplitude than in the near-stoichiometric compositions and is accompanied by a shift in the equilibrium position of the oxygen atoms. The effect of anharmonic thermal motion has also been considered, but alone, cannot explain the neutron data. The results of the present study correlate well with the previous X-ray experiment.     

Structural Features of Cubic Crystals Zn1 − x Me x 3d Te (Me 3d = V and Ni)

The structural state of bulk cubic Zn_{1 ? x} Me _x ^3d Te single crystals (Me ^3d are Jahn-Teller V and Ni ions with concentrations x = 0.0002 and 0.003, respectively) has been studied by thermal neutron diffraction. It has been found that the neutron diffraction patterns of the crystals contain the previously unknown scattering effects due to static deformations of the basal lattice in a wide vicinity of the 3d ions.     

Investigating the nuclear fusion and nucleon transfer channels in the 197Au + 6He reaction at 6He energies up to 20 MeV/A

New data on the cross sections of reactions that proceed during the interaction of ⁶He and ¹⁹⁷Au nuclei in the ⁶He energy range of 40 to 120 MeV are reported. The experiments were performed using the secondary beam of the ACCULINNA separator at the Flerov Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions (FLNR), JINR. Reaction products are identified by means of activation method to measure the gamma activity of a thin-foil target assembly. Excitation functions for ⁶He fusion reactions with subsequent emission of up to 10 neutrons from the compound nucleus are measured. Cross sections for reactions with emission of charged particles and nucleon transfer were also measured. The experimental cross sections for the (⁶He, xn) reactions that proceed via the formation of a compound nucleus agree in general with calculations using models that involve the statistical approach. It is shown that the complete fusion reaction cross section drops slightly up to an energy of 114 MeV. The experimental excitation functions for the reactions resulting in the formation of mercury and gold isotopes indicate that the main contribution to their formation comes from direct processes, while the evaporation reactions (⁶He, pxn) and (⁶He, αxn) are of minor importance.     

Nucleon transfer in highly mass-asymmetric reaction systems between197au and relatively light projectiles in the energy region below 10 MeV/u

Mechanisms of heavy-ion induced nuclear reactions in mass-asymmetric systems were studied by focusing on the nucleon transfer reaction. Excitation functions and projected mean recoil ranges for the target-like products in³⁷-,¹⁶O-,¹⁴N-, and¹²C-induced reactions on¹⁹⁷Au were measured by means ofγ-ray spectrometry. The energy range studied was near the Coulomb barrier of the systems with incident energies below 10 MeV/u. Nucleon transfer reactions were discussed by distinguishing the products from quasi-elastic transfer (QET) and those from deep inelastic transfer (DIT). The tendency towards equilibration of theN/Z value and the energy damping, which are the characteristic features of DIT, were found in the production of Au isotopes. Observations are consistent with the generally accepted concept that QET takes place along a trajectory near the Coulomb trajectory. QET was made to be connected with the interaction radius and most of the cross section ratios were reproduced well by an extended tunneling model.     

Cross sections for nuclear reactions in collisions of238U+238U and238U +197Au near and below the coulomb barrier

Cross sections for nuclear reactions at beam energies near and below the spherical Coulomb barrier V _c were measured in the very heavy collision systems²³⁸U +²³⁸U and²³⁸U +¹⁹⁷Au. The most probable reaction channel with mass transfer is the one-neutron transfer. Its excitation function is understood in terms of Rutherford trajectories together with the quantal process of neutron tunnelling over large distances. In addition, the exchange of up to 15 nucleons is observed down to 0.90 V _c . The excitation functions for the multi-nucleon transfer products have much steeper slopes than that for one-neutron transfer, and are steeper for²³⁸U +¹⁹⁷Au than for²³⁸U +²³⁸U, suggesting that nuclear contact is established in the associated collisions. The angular distribution for one selected multi-nucleon transfer product,²²⁷Th, shows that its formation occurs in more central collisions within contact times shorter than about 10^?21 s. There is no evidence for very longlived di-nuclear systems in the these reactions.     

Excitation functions of191+193Ir,197Au(6Li,xn+yp) compound nuclear reactions at ELi=48–156 MeV

Excitation functions of the compound nuclear reactions^191+193Ir,¹⁹⁷Au(⁶Li,xn+yp) forx =3–13 andy=0–2 have been investigated by means of in-beamγ-ray spectroscopy at the 156 MeV⁶Li beam of the Karlsruhe Isochronous Cyclotron. The beam energy has been varied in the range of 48 to 156 MeV in steps of about 10 MeV by Be-absorber foils in the external beam line. Absolute cross sections have been determined by normalizing the measuredγ-ray intensities to the production cross sections ofK- X-rays in the target. The experimental excitation functions are discussed on the basis of predictions of the preequilibrium (hybrid) model. While in most cases the theoretical calculations fairly well reproduce energy position and shapes of the curves, strong discrepancies in the absolute scale of the cross sections are observed. The theoretical predictions overestimate the (⁶Li,xn) cross sections by a factor of about 6. Conspicuous anomalies have been detected when comparing the (⁶Li, xn+1(2)p) reactions with (⁶Li,xn) reactions. The reactions with emission of one or two protons are considerably enhanced. The discrepancies and anomalies observed are tentatively explained by the influence of direct reaction channels as the⁶Li break-up, which experimentally proved to be the dominant contribution to the total reaction cross section. The enhancement of the reactions with emission of protons may be a consequence of transfer reactions into highly excited states combined with compound nucleus formation thus implying a cluster effect in preequilibrium emission process.     

Neutron diffraction and Mössbauer study on FeGa x Cr2−x S4

Ga doped sulphur spinel FeGa _x Cr_2?x S₄ (x = 0.1 and 0.3) have been studied with X-ray, neutron diffraction, and Mössbauer spectroscopy. Rietveld refinement of X-ray, neutron diffraction, and Mössbauer spectroscopy lead to the conclusion that the samples are in inverse spinel type, where most Ga ions are present at octahedral site (B). The neutron diffractions on FeGa _x Cr_2?x S₄ (x = 0.1) above 10 K show long range interaction behaviors and reveal a ferrimagnetic ordering, with the magnetic moment of Fe²⁺(?3.45 μ_B) aligned antiparallel to Cr³⁺ (+2.89 μ_B) at 10 K. Fe ions migrate from the tetrahedral (A) site to the octahedral (B) site with an increase in Ga substitutions. The electric quadrupole splittings of the A and B sites in Mössbauer spectra give direct evidence that Ga ions stimulate an asymmetric charge distribution of Fe ions in the A site.