Decay properties of the new isotope 243Cf and of 244Cf

A new isotope of californium ²⁴³Cf has been produced in the bombardments of ²³⁵U, ²³⁶U and ²³⁸U with ¹²C ions. At the same time new values for the half-life and α-particle energy observed in the decay of ²⁴⁴Cf were obtained.     

Nuclear properties of 242Cf, 243Cf, 244Cf and 245Cf

Irradiation of ²⁴²Cm and ²⁴⁴Cm by ³He ions produced two new isotopes of californium; ²⁴²Cf emits a 7.35 ± 0.01 MeV α-particle group and has a half-life of 3.2 ± 0.5 min, ²⁴³Cf emits 7.06 ± 0.01 and 7.17 ± 0.01 MeV α-particle groups and decays with a half-life of 12.5 ± 1.0 min. New values for the α-particle energies and half-lives were obtained for ²⁴⁴Cf and ²⁴⁵Cf.     

New nuclides228,229Pu

In continuation of our work on investigation of the neutron-deficient plutonium isotopes [1] we carried out the experiments aimed to produce new isotopes^228,229Pu. The isotope²²⁸Pu has been produced in the bombardment of the²⁰⁸Pb target with a beam of²⁴Mg and the isotope²²⁹Pu — in the reactions of^207,208Pb targets with²⁶Mg projectiles. The isotopes were identified after in-flight separation from the beam and target-like particles by the VASSILISSA electrostatic separator [2] and implantation into silicon strip detectors. The assignment of unknown -decays was made by establishing their genetic position and time correlations with those belonging to known -decay chains. The -decay energies of^228,229Pu were measured to be (7810±20) keV and (7460±30) keV, respectively.     

Sorption kinetics of uranium-238 and neptunium-237 on a glacial sediment

Studies of uptake of radionuclides by natural materials have shown that sorption may occur via fast equilibrium exchange and/or slow kinetic processes, which can be described using a series of box models. This paper describes the use of such models to evaluate the solid-solution partitioning of ²³⁸U and ²³⁷Np on a clay rich sediment. Experimental data are obtained using the batch sorption technique, which are then analysed using 1, 2, and 3 box kinetic models. Uptake of ²³⁸U is initially rapid, with approximately 90% sorbed within the first 30 minutes. Sorption continues, but at a slower rate. Uptake of ²³⁷Np is initially slower than U, with approximately 30% sorbed within the first 30 minutes. Sorption again continues, at a slower rate. Analysis of the experimental data indicates that sorption can be described using 2 and 3 box kinetic models. The results demonstrate that sorption of uranium and neptunium on clay rich sediments occurs via equilibrium and kinetically controlled pathways, with neptunium being controlled by kinetics to a greater extent than uranium. The 2 or 3 box model can describe sorption of neptunium, uranium requires the 3 box model.     

Synthesis and decay of nuclides in supernovae

Synthesis of chemical elements at conditions of nuclear statistical equilibrium is investigated for the ultramagnetized astrophysical plasma in supernovae and near to neutron stars. For iron group nuclides, the magnetic modification of nuclear structure shifts a maximum of nucleosynthesis products towards smaller mass numbers approaching titanium. Signals of ⁴⁴Ti radioactive decay in the gamma-spectra of the supernova remnant Cassiopeia A were revealed from the integral IBIS/ISGRI observational data. The gamma-ray fluxes for ⁴⁴Sc* lines with energies 67.9 and 78.4 keV are determined. The relationship between model and observational results is discussed.     

Annual dose assessment for luminescence and ESR dating: evaluation of nuclides mobility

The mobility of nuclides depends on their distribution within different sediment phases. Using a soil science approach, three main phases can be distinguished, which, according to increasing stability, are:

— The mobile phase, which includes elements in aqueous solution or elements weakly bonded at the surface of minerals.

— The phase that can be mobilised, in oxides, amorphous or weakly crystallised minerals. It can possibly move.

— The resistant phase, which cannot move.

The proportion of nuclides in the different phases, analysed together with other paedological data, can give information on the local stability of the radioactivity and possibly allow evaluation of error limits and corrections that should be applied to the present dose rate for dating purpose. In the worst cases this can lead to the conclusion that dating would not be reliable. Two case studies show the potential of the approach, which still remains more qualitative than quantitative. In an archaeological site (Ladoux, Puy de Dôme, France), streaming surface water brings radioactivity characterised by radium in excess. In volcanic tephra (La Vestide, Bas Vivarrais, France), nuclide mobility is found to be negligible; therefore observed disequilibrium in the U series pre-existed the eruption.     

New methods for the acquisition of ultra-wideline solid-state NMR spectra of spin-1/2 nuclides

The Wideband Uniform Rate Smooth Truncation - Carr-Purcell Meiboom-Gill (WURST-CPMG) pulse sequence was recently introduced as a new method of acquiring ultra-wideline solid-state NMR (SSNMR) patterns of quadrupolar nuclei (Chem. Phys. Lett. 464 (2008) 97). Herein, we describe the application of the WURST-CPMG pulse sequence to stationary samples (i.e., non-spinning or "static" samples) of various spin-1/2 nuclides ((119)Sn, (207)Pb, (199)Hg and (195)Pt) in order to examine its effectiveness for acquiring ultra-wideline SSNMR patterns. WURST-CPMG is compared to the CPMG and Cross Polarization (CP)-CPMG pulse sequences in select cases ((119)Sn and (207)Pb, respectively), and its usefulness in obtaining ultra-wideline SSNMR spectra in a piecewise fashion is explored. In addition, a preliminary investigation of pulses generated using optimal control theory (OCT) for the purpose of wideline excitation is presented; spectra acquired using these pulses are compared with standard, rectangular pulses of similar pulse powers. Both methods show much promise for acquiring high quality wideline patterns dominated by chemical shift anisotropy, with minimal distortions and significantly reduced experimental times.     

Low temperature solid-state NMR experiments of half-integer quadrupolar nuclides: caveats and data analysis

Solid-state NMR spectroscopy of half-integer quadrupolar nuclides has received a lot of interest recently with the advent of new methodologies and higher magnetic fields. We present here the extension of our previous low temperature method to an 18.8T system. This new probe entailed a total redesign including a cross coil and variable capacitors that are operational at cryogenic temperatures. The limitations to sensitivity are also discussed; including a new diode network, the utilization of a cryogenic band pass filter, and the consequences of the RF profiles of the coil. Further, details of the spectroscopy of quadrupolar nuclei in a protein are discussed, such as the observation of the outer transitions and how to distinguish them from the desired +/-1/2 transition.     

TITAN: an ion trap for accurate mass measurements of ms-half-life nuclides

The introduction of Paul traps, in particular linear radio-frequency quadrupoles in the early 2000s, has revolutionized the use of ion traps for probing the properties of radioactive nuclides. It opened the path to trapping all available nuclides, independent of their chemical properties. We present an overview of direct mass measurements of short-lived nuclides using TITAN, a Penning trap mass spectrometer facility particularly suitable for precision measurements of ms-half-life nuclides.     

ISOLTRAP: An on-line Penning trap for mass spectrometry on short-lived nuclides

ISOLTRAP is a Penning trap mass spectrometer for high-precision mass measurements on short-lived nuclides installed at the on-line isotope separator ISOLDE at CERN. The masses of close to 300 radionuclides have been determined up to now. The applicability of Penning trap mass spectrometry to mass measurements of exotic nuclei has been extended considerably at ISOLTRAP by improving and developing this double Penning trap mass spectrometer over the past two decades. The accurate determination of nuclear binding energies far from stability includes nuclei that are produced at rates less than 100 ions/s and with half-lives well below 100ms. The mass-resolving power reaches 10⁷ corresponding to 10keV for medium heavy nuclei and the uncertainty of the resulting mass values has been pushed down to below 10^-8. The article describes technical developments achieved since 1996 and the present performance of ISOLTRAP.     

Evaluation of 242Cm and 244Cm decay data

The decay data evaluation results are presented for the ²⁴²Cm and ²⁴⁴Cm radionuclides decaying to the levels in ²³⁸Pu and ²⁴⁰Pu, respectively. The evaluated data have been obtained using information published up to 2005. The text was submitted by the author in English.     

Interactions of slow neutrons with nuclides of antimony,tellurium and iodine

Coherent neutron scattering lengths and total cross sections have been measured on samples of ordinary Sb, Te, I and on isotopically enriched compounds. From the experimental data for neutron energies of 0.57 meV, 1.26 eV and 5.2 eV the following data were obtained: the coherent scattering lengths (in fm) of the bound atoms Sb (5.57±0.03);¹²¹Sb(5.71±0.06),¹²³Sb(5.38±0.07); Te(5.80±0.03) and for its isotopes of the mass number 122(3.8±0.2); 123(?0.05±0.25?i·0.100); 124(7.95±0.10); 125(5.01±0.08); 126(5.55±0.07); 128 (5.88±0.07); 130(6.01±0.07). the thermal absorption cross sections (in barn) for Sb(4.91±0.05);¹²¹Sb(5.77±0.12);¹²³Sb(3.8±0.2); Te(4.05±0.05) and I(6.15±0.06). The combination of the measured values of scattering lengths and -cross sections resulted in data for coherent and incoherent cross sections. Taking account of resonance data a complete set of spin state- and reconance scattering lengths has been obtained and discussed.     

MISTRAL: A new program for precise atomic mass determinations of nuclides far from stability

The MISTRAL project (Mass measurements at ISolde using a Transmission RAdiofrequency spectrometer on-Line) is scheduled to begin experiments towards the end of 1996. With high resolution (10⁵), potentially high accuracy (5×10^–7) and excellent sensitivity (10 s^–1), the MISTRAL spectrometer promises to provide needed mass measurements in regions of very-short lived nuclei. The spectrometer operation principles are described and a discussion concerning the interest in using highly charged ions is presented.CSNSM, Orsay; IAP, Bucharest; PPE Division, CERN; GSI, Darmstadt; University of Mainz; McGill University, Montreal; IPN, Orsay; Chalmers University, Göteborg; University of Giessen and the ISOLDE Collaboration.     

A Bragg curve detector and its application in AMS measurements for medium-weight nuclides

The schematic layout and principle of a Bragg curve detector were showed in this paper. A Bragg curve detector was systemically modified and its performance was improved. The total energy resolution of the detector is 0.9% for alpha particle at energy of 5.48 MeV from ²⁴¹Am source, and the Bragg Peak resolution is 1.6%. Measurement of medium-weight nuclides by using the Bragg curve detector were carried at CIAE-AMS system. series of ³⁶Cl and ⁴¹Ca standard samples were measured. The results showed that this Bragg curve detector could clearly identify isobars ³⁶Cl-³⁶S and ⁴¹Ca-⁴¹K. The results also showed that the ΔZ/Z of 1/47, corresponding to Bragg Peak resolution is 2.1% at ion atomic number of about 16. The Bragg curve detector can be successfully used for AMS measurement.     

钍铀循环关键核素的多群数据库加工与初步验证

钍基先进核能系统的发展对核数据提出了新的需求。钍铀循环关键核素的多群数据库是堆芯物理设计与分析计算的基础。因此,基于权威核数据处理程序NJOY对ENDF/B-VII.1评价核数据库进行处理得到WIMS格式多群截面数据,利用专用更新处理程序WILLIE得到WIMS格式数据库,并利用多群堆芯计算程序WIMSD-5B对数据库进行了一系列临界基准检验,结果表明:基于ENDF/B-VII.1加工的WIMS库与WIMS库更新计划（WLUP）的网站上发布的最新版本WIMS库的计算结果基本一致,并且,在16个钍铀循环基准题检验中,新加工的WIMS库计算平均误差要比WIMSD5B程序的自带WIMS库的计算结果小0.225 3%,精度更高,可靠性更好。     

Interaction of slow neutrons with nuclides of scandium,titanium, vanadium and manganese

Total cross section measurements at various neutron energies were performed on metallic and oxide samples of natural Sc, Ti, V, and Mn. By means of the Christiansen filter technique the coherent scattering lengths were determined on natural and isotopically enriched samples of Ti-, V-, and Mn-compounds. From the measured values we deduced the following data:

? the absorption cross sections (at 0.0253 eV in barn) of^natTi (6.43±0.06) and of^natV (5.06±0.04);

? the bound coherent scattering lengths (in fm) of^natTi (?3.370±0.013),⁴⁶Ti (4.72±0.05),⁴⁷Ti (3.53±0.07),⁴⁸Ti (?5.86±0.02),⁴⁹Ti (0.98±0.05),⁵⁰Ti (5.88±0.10),^natV (?0.443±0.014), and Mn (?3.750±0.018);

? the free potential radii (in fm) of Sc (3.60 ±0.10),⁴⁶Ti (3.50±0.10),⁴⁷Ti (3.60±0.10),⁴⁸Ti (3.90±0.10),⁴⁹Ti (4.10 ±0.15),⁵⁰Ti (4.50±0.15),⁵¹V (5.20±0.20), and Mn (6.50±20).

On the basis of the well known resonance parameters in combination with new fits of bound levels the spin state scattering lengths, the spin incoherence, and the obtained potential radii are discussed. Total cross section calculations were performed by multi-level formalism and are compared with the measurements.     

Magnetic resonance in systems with equivalent spin-1/2 nuclides. Part 2: energy values and spin states

In an earlier paper (Part 1), featuring group-theoretical analysis, it was shown that the isotropic EPR spectra of free radical (S=1/2) species XL(n), where the n equivalent nuclei also have spin 1/2, have a more complicated form than anticipated from the usual (first-order) oversimplified analysis. The nucleus of X is taken to be spin-less. The latter predicts n+1 lines with intensity ratios given by the coefficients of the binomial expansion; for systems with n=3, the EPR spectrum in fact consists of 6 lines. Analogous considerations hold for NMR spectroscopy of XL(n) non-radicals. For n > or = 3 systems, the degeneracy of the energy levels cannot be completely removed by the Zeeman electronic and nuclear interactions. Explicit solutions for n=3 (analytic, as well as computational) of the spin-hamiltonian for the energies and spin states have been obtained and are given in the present work. Discussion of the underlying theory, invoking exchange degeneracy, is included herein in some detail, focusing on line positions and relative spectral intensities.     

New insights into the 243Am + 48Ca reaction products previously observed in the experiments on elements 113, 115, and 117

Results of a new series of experiments on the study of production cross sections and decay properties of the isotopes of element 115 in the reaction (243)Am+(48)Ca are presented. Twenty-one new decay chains originating from (288)115 were established as the product of the 3n-evaporation channel by measuring the excitation function at three excitation energies of the compound nucleus (291)115. The decay properties of all newly observed nuclei are in full agreement with those we measured in 2003. At the lowest excitation energy E*=33 MeV, for the first time we registered the product of the 2n-evaporation channel, (289)115, which was also observed previously in the reaction (249)Bk+(48)Ca as the daughter nucleus of the decay of (293)117. The maximum cross section for the production of (288)115 is found to be 8.5 pb at E*≈36 MeV.