Measurements of neutron yields and spatial distributions in U/Pb, Pb and Hg thick targets bombarded by 0.5 and 1.0 GeV protons

Measurements have been carried out on neutron yields and spatial distributions in U/Pb, Pb and Hg thick targets and the surrounding paraffin moderators bombarded by 0.533 and 1.0 GeV protons. CR-39 detectors were deployed on the surfaces of targets and moderators to record the neutrons produced in the targets. The measurements show that:

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Meson production inp+U,O+U and S+U interactions at 200 GeV/nucleon

Meson production in proton, oxygen and sulphur interactions with uranium targets at 200 GeV/nucleon is studied. We measure the inclusive meson cross-section d /dP _T ² and its evolution fromp+U to S+U. The cross-section fitted with an exponential gives an inverse slopeP _T0 of the order of 210 MeV/c. As a function of the neutral transverse energy,P _T0 values show a slight rise followed by a plateau. The normalized difference (⁺–^–)/^– between positive and negative meson cross-sections is found to increase withE _T .also at ISEL     

Fission fragment distribution following antiproton absorption at rest on238U

The distribution of nuclei resulting from the annihilation of stopped antiprotons on²³⁸U has been studied by an off-line measurement of the residual radioactivity. It was found that the probability of fission exceeds 84% (68% c.l.). The charge and mass distributions of the fission products can be separated into two parts, a more frequent symmetric component originating from high energy fission (excitation energy between 100 MeV and 1 GeV) and an asymmetric component from low energy fission (excitation energy less than 40 MeV).     

Electrofission of 234U, 236U and 238U: Angular distributions and E2 strength functions

The electrofission angular distributions for ²³⁴U in the energy range 5.5 to 25 MeV were measured and are analyzed together with those obtained previously for ²³⁶U and ²³⁸U. The competition between the K = 0 and K = 1 fission channels following E2 excitation is established, showing a dominance of the K = 0 channel for near-barrier fission. The E2 fission strength functions for ²³⁴U, ²³⁶U and ²³⁸U are deduced as well, and the E2 fission probabilities (at energies below the pairing gap) are estimated. A substantial concentration of E2 strength near the fission barrier is found, in good agreement with earlier photofission angular-distribution studies.     

Energy dependence of the angular distribution of Sc fragments produced in the interaction of 238U with 0.8–11.5 GeV protons

Angular distributions of various Sc nuclides formed in the interaction of ²³⁸U with 0.8, 3.0 and 11.5 GeV protons have been measured. The curves change from forward-peaked at 0.8 GeV to sideward-peaked at 11.5 GeV, the 3 GeV curve being closer in shape to that obtained at 0.8 GeV. The implications of this transition for the nature of the reaction mechanism are discussed.     

Polarized target asymmetry in π+ photoproduction between 0.3 and 1.0 GeV at 130°

The polarized target asymmetry for γ + p → π⁺ + n was measured at c.m. angles around 130° for the energy range between 0.3 and 1.0 GeV. A magnetic spectrometer system was used to detect π⁺ mesons from the polarized butanol target. The data show two prominent positive peaks at 0.4 and 0.8 GeV and a deep minimum at 0.6 GeV. These features are well reproduced by the phenomenological analysis made by us.     

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.     

Observation of antideuteron production in electron-positron annihilation at 10 GeV center of mass energy

The production of antideuterons has been observed in electron-positron annihilations at center-of-mass energies around 10 GeV. Antideuterons have been identified unambiguously by their energy loss in the drift chamber, their time-of-flight and the pattern of their energy deposition in the shower counters of the ARGUS detector. The production rate in the momentum range (0.6?1.8) GeV/c is (1.6_?0.7^+1.0) × 10^?5 per hadronic event.     

Mass and kinetic energy distribution in cold fission of233U,235U and239Pu induced by thermal neutrons

The time-of-flight technique was used to measure the mass and kinetic energy distribution of fragments from fission of²³³U,²³⁵U and²³⁹Pu, induced by thermal neutrons at the Grenoble High Flux Reactor. The data array is presented as equal probability lines in the high kinetic energy regions. The fluctuations observed in those experimental lines are explained by a static scission configuration model, in which the most important influence comes from the Coulomb interaction energy between the two fragments. The highest values of total kinetic energy are obtained for fragmentations with heavy fragmentsZ=50–52,N=80–82 and light fragmentsZ=40–42,N=60–64.     

Muon capture rates in233U,234U,235U,236U,238U,and237Np

The time spectra for muon induced fission of²³³U,²³⁴U,²³⁵U,²³⁶U,²³⁸U, and²³⁷Np were measured simultaneously, detecting both fragments in coincidence in a fast multi parallel plate avalanche detector. The observed mean lifetimes τ are 68.9 ± 0.3 ns, 70.6 ± 0.2 ns, 72.2 ±0.2 ns, 74.3 ± 0.3 ns, 77.0 ±0.4 ns, and 69.8 ±0.2 ns for the above isotopes, respectively. No second time component, tentatively ascribed to a possible fission isomer, was observed. The deduced total capture rates are compared with theoretical predictions.     

The phase of the forward π+π− → π+π− scattering amplitude

Using methods developed by Pietarinen, we evaluate the phase of the forward scattering amplitude for the process π⁺π^? → π⁺π^? in the energy range 1.0 GeV ? √ s ? 1.8 GeV. Our results are in disagreement with previous work, unless early onset of the asymptotic behaviour of the phase of this amplitude is imposed. They tend to rule out some solutions for the partial-wave amplitudes in this energy range.     

Production of π 0 and η mesons in carbon-induced relativistic heavy-ion collisions

The production of π ⁰ and η mesons has been investigated in the system ¹²C+¹²C at 0.8A GeV, 1.0A GeV, and 2.0A GeV using the TAPS photon detector. The production cross sections and transverse-momentum distributions measured around midrapidity extend the existing systematics of neutral-meson production to light systems and the highest energy available at the GSI accelerator facility. At all beam energies scaling of the differential production cross section with the transverse mass of the emitted meson is observed. In addition π⁰ production has been studied in the mass-asymmetric systems ¹²C+¹⁹⁷Au and ¹⁹⁷Au+¹²C at 0.8A GeV.     

Production cross-sections of neutron-rich Pb and Bi isotopes in the fragmentation of 238U

Neutron-rich lead and bismuth isotopes have been produced by cold-fragmentation reactions induced by ²³⁸U projectiles at 1A GeV impinging on a beryllium target. The high-resolving power FRagment Separator (FRS) at GSI allowed us to identify and determine the production cross-sections of 43 nuclei, nine of them for the first time ( ^{216, 217, 218, 219}Pb and ^{219, 220, 221, 222, 223}Bi . These data are compared to other previously measured cross-sections in similar reactions and model calculations.     

Fission of Pb nuclei induced by 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 3.7 and 7.4 GeV protons in the volume of massive U/Pb and Pb targets

Experiments with relativistic protons accelerated at the Synchrophasotron LHE, Dubna, with energies of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 3.7 and 7.5 GeV hitting massive targets of (nat. U)/Pb and Pb were carried out using SSNTD during the years 1996–1999. The beam profiles and intensities of both primary particles and fast secondary neutrons were measured inside the massive cylinder blocks of Pb and U by counting fission fragment tracks due to the induced fission of Pb nuclei. The beam diameter typically increases by 20–30% at the depth 10 and 20 cm. With increasing the energy of protons the number of secondary neutrons increases with the depth of the target.

Further studies on beam profile measurements inside the massive heavy metal targets are discussed.     

Light charged particle emission and fission in238U+238U collisions at 1,740 MeV

Inclusive⁴He and⁴H energy spectra and heavy fragment coincidence correlations have been measured for reactions of 7.31 MeV/u²³⁸U with²³⁸U and^?197Au targets. The H/He production cross sections are in the range 15–26 mb, and their emission spectra are very similar for the two systems. The observed strong kinematic shifts with angle are reproduced in shape and magnitude by Monte Carlo simulations of particle evaporation from projectile-like and target-like fragments, indicating competition between charged particle emission and sequential fission. No evidence is found for high energy charged particle emission associated with ultra-highZ composite systems. Heavy fragment measurements indicate an abundance of quasielastic and deeply inelastic reaction fragments, as well as sequential fission of target and projectile nuclei. For²³⁸U nuclei, the fission occurs predominantly in an asymmetric mode, reminiscent of fission at low excitation energy. For²³⁸+²³⁸U reactions in the vicinity of the grazing angle, the frequency of single sequential fission (with survival of the partner fragment) is twice as large as double sequential fission in which both the target and projectile undergo fission. In²³⁸U+¹⁹⁷Au reactions, the survival probability of the heavy fragments is even greater. The surprisingly high survival probabilities of high-Z fragments imply a preponderance of very soft collisions in these very-heavy-ion reactions, at least at energies not very far over the Coulomb barrier.     

Photofission in238U,232Th and209Bi at intermediate energy

Fragment energy correlation measurements have been made for²³⁸U,²³²Th and²⁰⁹Bi with bremsstrahlung of 600 MeV maximum energy. The study was performed with silicon surface barrier detectors. Distributions of kinetic energy as a function of fragment mass are presented. The results are compared with earlier photofission data and, in the case of bismuth, with calculations based on the liquid drop model.     

The C(α, X)11C cross sections at 1.59 and 4.19 GeV

The absolute cross sections for the production of ¹¹C by 1.59 GeV and 4.19 GeV α-particles incident on natural carbon have been measured to be 46.4 ± 1.3 mb and 42.5 ± 1.1 mb respectively. These results, together with data reported at other energies, indicate that the C(α, X)¹¹C cross section becomes approximately constant at a value of about 43 mb for energies above 3 GeV (750 MeV/n). A similar energy dependence is exhibited by the C(p, X)¹¹C reaction whose cross section has been measured previously over an extensive energy range. The C(α, X)¹¹C cross sections are found to be in good agreement with predictions of a semi-empirical model developed to describe nuclear fragmentation.     

High-energy photofission of gold and uranium

Bremsstrahlung induced photofission of ¹⁹⁷Au and ²³⁸U has been measured for energies E^max_γ = 0.8 to 2.2 GeV using catcher foil techniques. The mass distributions of the fission fragments of uranium were measured as a function of the maximum bremsstrahlung energy. The peak-to-valley and forward-backward ratios have been determined for ²³⁸U.     

The spectrum of protons produced in pp collisions at 31 GeV total energy

Data are reported on the distributions in longitudinal and transverse momentum of protons produced in the range 0.5 < x < 1.0 (x = Feynman variable) and 0.2 < p_T² < 1.8 (GeV/c)² in proton-proton collisions at 31 GeV c.m. energy at the CERN ISR. The invariant inelastic cross section shows a peak at high longitudinal momenta. The shape of this peak suggests substantial production of states with masses up to at least 7 GeV.     

Coulomb-nuclear interference in π±p and K±p elastic scattering below 3 GeV: Measurements,real parts and K±p dispersion relations

The differential cross sections for π⁺p elastic scattering at0.6, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, GeV/c for π^-p at 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 GeV/c, for K^-p at 1.2, 1.8, 2.6 GeV/c and for K^-p at 0.9, 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, 1.8, 2.6 GeV/c have been measured with an overall accuracy ofthe order of 1 to 2% in an electronics experiment over the angular region corresponding to momentum transfer t between 0.0005 and 0.10 GeV². Making use of the interference effects between the Coulomb and the nuclear interaction, we have determined the magnitude and sign of the real part of the scattering amplitude near t = 0. The K^±p real parts have been used in a dispersion relation to derive the value of the KNΛ coupling constant.