Fission of 232Th, 238U and 235U induced by negative muons

The absolute yields of prompt and delayed fission induced by negative muons in ²³²Th, ²³⁸U and ²³⁵U have been measured. The delayed fission yields are much lower than could be predicted from Γ_n/Γ_f systematics for 15–20 MeV nuclear excitation. The systematics of prompt fission yields are compared with recently obtained photofission data. It is suggested that prompt fission can be used for investigating the channel structure of the fission barrier.     

Fission-fragment energy correlation measurements for (nth, f) of 232U and 233U

Fission-fragment mass and kinetic energy distributions and their correlations have been measured for ²³²U and ²³³U. The results on these uranium isotopes and ²³⁵U are compared. The mass peak/valley ratio of 785 ± 68 for ²³²U is the highest of the three isotopes. The 〈E_K〉(μ_H) distributions show significant differences. The dip ΔE_K at symmetry is $\text{16.2 ± 1.0}\text{MeV}\text{(}{}^{232}\text{U}\text{)}$, $\text{17.0 ± 1.0}\text{MeV}\text{(}{}^{233}\text{U}\text{)}\text{and}\text{20.6 ± 1.1}\text{MeV}\text{(}{}^{235}\text{U}\text{)}$. In the yields for high-kinetic-energy-selected events, the mass 134 dominates for ²³³U and ²³⁵U, but for ²³²U it is μ_H≈144, which dominates. This complete reversal of profiles can be understood in terms of fragment shells.     

Identification of the nuclide 226U

Identification of the uranium isotope ²²⁶U is reported. This nuclide was produced in bombardments of ²³²Th with 140 MeV ⁴He ions. It is observed to decay by α-particle emission with a half-life of 0.5±0.2 sec and has an α-particle energy of E_α = 7.43±0.03 MeV, giving a Q-value of Q_α = 7.56±0.03 MeV. Detection was achieved by on-line counting and pulsed-cyclotron beam techniques. It is also observed that the maximum yields for (α, p(x ? 1 )n) reactions are about ten times greater than those for (α, xn) reactions at these energies.     

The decay of 235U

Twenty-eight γ-rays, ten of which are reported for the first time, have been observed in the decay of ²³⁵U, and all have been placed in a revised level scheme for ²³¹Th. Three new levels at 390.27, 317.42 and 240.82 keV respectively have been proposed and the data are in accord with he results of coincidence studies. Reduced transition probabilities of inter-band γ-ray transitions are calculated from the data and compared with theory and an estimate of the intrinsic quadrupole moment, Q_O has been computed.     

Photoinduced fission of the doubly even uranium isotopes 234U, 236U and 238U

A measurement of the angular distributions and yields of fission fragments in the photofission of ²³⁴U has been performed between 5.2 and 6.4 MeV. As γ-source, the bremsstrahlung from a microtron was used. For the detection of the fission fragments, solid-state track detectors were used. The present data for ²³⁴U have been analysed together with earlier obtained data for ²³⁶U and ²³⁸U. The values of the fission barrier parameters obtained are compared to results in theoretical macroscopic and microscopic fission potential energy calculations.     

An isomeric two-particle state in 236U

A new isomeric state with 125 ± 20 ns half-life has been found in a ²³⁵U(d, pγ)²³⁶U experiments. Of the 12 observed delayed λ-lines, 11 have been fitted into a tentative decay scheme. The isomeric level is deduced to be the K, J^π = 4,4^? two-quasineutron state at 1052 keV with configuration $\text{[743]}\text{7}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$; $\text{[631]}\text{1}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ that is also seen in (d, p) experiments.     

Lifetime measurements on the compound nucleus 236U by means of the shadow effect

The lifetime of the ²³⁶U nucleus is measured in the range of excitation energies E_x = 6.7–11.5 MeV by a method based on the shadow (blocking) effect. The results obtained, as well as those of an earlier measurement of the lifetime for the ²³⁹U nucleus in the range E_x = 6.4–9.1 MeV, are compared with the results of calculations based on the level density ρ(E_x) in the Fermi-gas model and on the empirical level density ρ(E)_x) calculated as a result of an analysis of(n, γ) and (n, n') cross sections. An increase of excitation energy produces a substantial reduction in the rate of decrease of the lifetime at E_x ? 7.5 MeV for both compound nuclei as compared to the theoretical dependence τ(e_x).     

X-ray photoelectron spectra of uranium and uranium oxides. Correlation with the half-life of 235Um.

Uranium metal and the uranium oxides UO₂, U₃O₈, UO₃ are studied by photoelectron spectroscopy. Chemical shifts of the 4f electronic cor     

Study of α-particles produced in thermal neutron induced reactions on 235U

The ²³⁵U(n_th, α) reaction and the α-particles emitted in the thermal neutron induced fission of ²³⁵U were measured using a very pure thermal neutron beam of the Grenoble high flux reactor. An upper limit of 0.66 mb was determined for the ²³⁵U(n_th, α) reaction cross section, which is lower than all the previous results. The energy distribution of the α-particles produced by the ²³⁵U(n_th, f) reaction was measured down to 7 MeV with a non-shielded surface-barrier detector telescope assembly. The measured distribution has a quasi-Gaussian shape; it reveals, however, a pronounced deviation from such a shape at lower α-energies. Several possible explanations for this deviation are discussed.     

Magneto-optical study of the 5ƒ2 → 5ƒ16d1 transition in UO2

High field Faraday rotation and magnetic circular dichroism measurements in the energy range between 1.4 and 5.4eV are reported for UO₂. The measurements are compared with two modified atomic models for the 5?² → 5?¹6d¹ transition using LS- and jj-coupling, respectively. Excellent agreement between theory and experiment is found only for a jj-coupling treatment of the final state.The Faraday rotation for magnetic saturation is estimated to be 3 × 10⁶ deg cm^?1 at 4.5 eV.     

Cumulative fission yield measurements with 14.7 MeV neutrons on 238U

The fission yield data in the 14 MeV energy neutron induced fission of ²³⁸U play an important role in decay heat calculations and generation-IV reactor designs. In order to accurately measure fission product yields (FPYs) of ²³⁸U induced by 14 MeV neutrons, the cumulative yields of fission products ranging from ⁹²Sr to ¹⁴⁷Nd in the ²³⁸U(n, f) reaction with a 14.7 MeV neutron were determined using an off-line γ-ray spectrometric technique. The 14.7 MeV quasi-monoenergetic neutron beam was provided by the K-400 D-T neutron generator at China Academy of Engineering Physics (CAEP). Fission products were measured by a low background high purity germanium gamma spectrometer. The neutron flux was obtained from the ⁹³Nb (n, 2n)^92mNb reaction, and the mean neutron energy was calculated using the cross-section ratios for the ⁹⁰Zr(n, 2n)⁸⁹Zr and ⁹³Nb(n, 2n)^92mNb reactions. With a series of corrections, high precision cumulative yields of 20 fission products were obtained. Our FPYs for the ²³⁸U(n, f) reaction at 14.7 MeV were compared with the existing experimental nuclear reaction data and evaluated nuclear data, respectively. The results will be helpful in the design of a generation-IV reactor and the construction of evaluated fission yield databases.     

The mass and kinetic energy distributions in the fission of 237Np, 232Th, 238U, 235U and 209Bi induced by 110 MeV electrons

Fission of ²³²Th, ²³⁷Np, ²⁰⁹Bi, ²³⁵U and ²³⁸U induced by 110 MeV electrons has been studied by means of surface barrier detectors. The resulting mass and kinetic energy distributions are presented. Comparison with the liquid drop model predictions shows reasonable agreement in the case of ²⁰⁹Bi. The data are analysed in terms of a two component model of fission and the mean total kinetic energies of the components are shown to depend linearly on $\text{Z}{}_1\text{Z}{}_2\text{(A}{}_1{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>3</mtext>}}\text{+ A}{}_2{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>3</mtext>}}\text{)}$. Interesting differences are found when the present results are compared with the recent photofission experiments of Areskoug et al. and features in both sets of data correlate with changes of fragment deformation implied by the calculations of Wilkins et al.     

Possible evidence for shape isomeric γ-decay in μ− atoms of 238U

A search for the γ-decay of the shape isomer in muonic ²³⁸U excited by radiationless transitions has been performed. Seven delayed transitions in the energy region of 700 to 3200 keV have been observed with a large Ge(Li) detector. Two transitions with E_γ = 2215 and 3131 keV have been attributed to the decay of the shape isomeric state into levels in the first well. The isomeric shift of the second minimum E₁₁ ≈ 600 keV in the presence of the muon and the decrease of the lifetime of the shape isomer to τ = 12 ± 2 ns give arguments in favour of the connection of shape isomerism with large quadrupole deformations.     

The infrared spectra of 12C32S, 12C34S, 13C32S,and 12C33S

Using a tunable diode laser spectrometer, the infrared absorption spectra of four isotopic species of carbon monosulfide have been observed in the positive column of a dc discharge of CS₂ and Ar. The wavenumbers of 115 vibration-rotation transitions between 1180.5 and 1266.1 cm^?1 have been measured. These lines were assigned to the 1-0, 2-1, 3-2, and 4-3 bands of ¹²C³²S, the 1-0 and 2-1 bands of ¹²C³⁴S and ¹³C³²S, and the 1-0 band of ¹²C³³S. These new data have been combined with the previous infrared and microwave results to determine Dunham coefficients (Y_ij), the Dunham potential expansion constants (a₀,a₁,a₂,a₃, and a₄), and the classical turning points by the RKR method.     

Correlation between fragment mass-distribution fine structure,charge distribution and nuclear structure for thermal-neutron-induced fission of 233U and 235U

Masses corresponding to observed fine-structure peaks in the fragment mass distributions for thermal-neutron-induced fission of ²³³U and ²³⁵U are shown to correspond to average measured masses for even-even nuclear charge splits. Evidence is presented that the yield enhancement for even-Z fragments is not restricted just to fission events with higher-than-average total kinetic energy. The anomalously high yield of fragments with mass 134 in ²³⁵U(n, f) as opposed to ²³³(n, f) is tentatively correlated with rapidly changing nuclear structure properties as a function of the mass of the complementary light (Z = 40) fragments.     

The β− decay of 102Mo

The ¹⁰²Mo activity was obtained by photofission of natural U and thermal-neutron induced fission of ²³⁵U, with subsequent chemical separation of the molybdenum fraction. In addition, nuclei with mass 102 were separated from fission products of ²³⁵U(n_th, f) using the mass separator LOHENGRIN. A decay scheme and absolute γ-intensities are deduced from measured γ-ray, X-ray and γ-coincidence spectra. Logftvalues are calculated. Shell-model calculations for a $\text{(πlg}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>9</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{)}{}^3$$\text{(νlg}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>7</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{)}{}^3$ multiplet have been carried out using effective nucleon-nucleon interactions. The γ-decay between low-lying, low-spin members of this multiplet was studied in detail and compared with the experimental data.     

Multiparameter study of 1H, 3H and 4He in fast neutron induced fission of 235U

The emission probabilities per fission of α-particles, tritons and protons have been measured in fast neutron induced fission of ²³⁵U. The measurements were carried out at neutron energies of 120, 180, 230 and 550 keV. AΔE-E semiconductor detector telescope was used to identify different light charged particles and the fission fragments were detected with an ionization chamber. The three-parameter data corresponding to the pulse heights from the ΔE-E detectors and the ion-chamber were recorded event by event on magnetic tape and were analyzed off-line by computer. No significant variation in the most probable energy ($\text{E}$) and the standard deviation (σ_E) of the energy spectra of different light charged particles with incident neutron energy was observed, although $\text{E}{}_{\mathrm{\alpha }}$ was seen to have a slightly higher value beyond E_n = 230 keV. The yield of α-particles in fission induced by neutrons of E_n ～ 200 keV was found to be higher by about 20 % than that in thermal neutron induced fission. The yields of tritons and protons were found to increase significantly with neutron energy.     

Penning ionization electron spectroscopy of H2O,D2O,H2S and SO2

Electron energy peak shifts and peak shapes were determined in the ionization of H₂O, D₂O, H₂S and SO₂ by Ne(³P₂) and He(2¹S, 2³S) metastable atoms. The shifts are large, especially in ionization of H₂O and D₂O into the ionic ground state and are probably mostly due to chemical interaction during the collision.In a previous paper the electron energy distribution curves for ionization of CO, HCl, HBr, N₂O, NO₂, CO₂, COS and CS₂ by helium, neon and argon metastables and the characteristics of this ionization were described¹. In this paper the series of triatomic molecules was extended to the molecules H₂O, D₂O, H₂S and SO₂. Because all these molecules have considerable dipole moments it could be expected that the peak shifts might be enhanced as compared with other triatomic molecules.     

Prompt γ-rays emitted in the thermal-neutron induced fission of 233U and 239Pu

The average number and average energy of γ-rays emitted within ≈ 5 nsec after fission have been determined as functions of fragment mass and as functions of total kinetic energy. They were obtained from a four-parameter experiment that recorded, event-by-event, correlated of γ-rays and of fission-fragment pairs and the time, relative to fission, at which a γ-ray was detected. For ²³³U(n_th, f) the average total number and energy emitted per fission were found to be 6.31 ± 0.3 and 6.69 ± 0.3 MeV, respectively, giving an average photon energy of 1.06 ± 0.07 MeV. The results for ²³⁹Pu(n_th, f) given in the same order, are 6.88 ± 0.35,6.73 ± 0.35 MeV, and 0.98 ± 0.07 MeV.     

The elastic scattering of 3He on 4He at medium energies

The differential cross section of the elastic scattering ³He(⁴He, ⁴He)³He has been measured at center of mass energies E_c.m. between 28 and 44 MeV and in the c.m. angular range of 20° to 160°. The ³He polarization P at E_c.m. = 42 MeV and θ_c.m. = 132° was determined in a double scattering experiment. The analysis of the cross section data with the optical and the cluster model has been described previously. The phase shifts obtained in the cluster model calculations were used as starting values in a phase shift analysis. The resulting final real phase shifts and elasticity parameters give good fits to the cross section data. At 44 MeV the elasticity parameters show a pronounced odd-even dependence on angular momentum which had been found already in the case of the real phase shifts. The result of the polarization experiment |P| < 0.22 is consistent with cluster model predictions.