Competition between fission and neutron emission by diffusion model

Magnitudes and relative signs of amplitudes for three inelastic proton channels have been determined for 42 3/2⁺ resonances in⁵⁷Co in the rangeE _p =3.1–4.0 MeV. Amplitude and width channel correlations have been obtained for each pair of channels. One of the amplitude correlations is large and highly significant. Comparisons between these data and statistical theories of nuclear levels are presented for both widths and products of amplitudes; in general, agreement is good. The widths for one channel and amplitude products for one pair of channels appear energy-dependent, with most of the strength concentrated in the lowest 200 keV.     

Studies of light-charged particle emission in fission at Trombay

Studies of prompt radiations emitted in fission were started at Trombay in the late 1950’s by Dr R Ramanna and over the years extensive investigations on the emission of prompt neutrons, gamma ray and K x-rays in fission were carried out with neutron beams fromapsara andcirus reactors. In the early 1960’s studies on the emission of light-charged particles in fission, which is a rare mode of fission, were also started. This paper reviews some of the recent studies on the emission of light-charged particles (lcp) in fission which were carried out with a view to investigate the mechanism oflcp emission, the scission configuration and the dynamics of the last stages of the fission process.     

Distinction between pre-formed cluster emission and heavy ion decay by fission

For studying cluster radioactivity in the actinide region as well as trans-tin region two types of models are used: the pre-cluster formation model and the unified fission model. In the case of the actinide region, the cluster-like shapes are preferred for very high asymmetry while fissioning shapes are more suitable for less asymmetry and symmetry (the line of demarcation being around A _c =31). In this work this line of demarcation is studied in the case of the trans-tin region. The results of this study show that the transition from cluster mode to fission mode takes place at A _c =16.     

A correlation decay theorem at high temperature

We derive a theorem of exponential decay of correlation functions at high temperature for a general statistical mechanical system following the approach introduced by L. Gross. The theorem is formulated so as to be useful for locality problems in lattice quantum gravity.     

The fission barrier of actinide nuclei at very high angular momentum

The Strutinsky approach with a cranked, axially symmetric Saxon-Woods potential, is used to study the double-humped fission barrier of ²⁴⁰Pu at very high spins. The stabilizing role of the shell effects in the second minimum is demonstrated.     

Pre-scission particle and gamma-ray emission in heavy-ion-induced fission

An introduction is given to the physics of the equilibrium transition-state model and of dissipative nuclear dynamics. Experimental data on pre-scission particle and gamma-ray emission and their interpretation are reviewed. They appear to indicate overdamped motion of the nuclear fluid. A time scale for compound-nucleus fission of about 30 × 10⁻²¹ s or greater is indicated, whilst that for quasi- or fast-fission is somewhat shorter.     

Competition between evaporation and fission: Stochastic aspects

The new neutronrich isotope ²²⁸ Rn was produced by spallation reactions induced by 600 MeV protons in a ²³² Th target and identified by massseparation and decay spectroscopy. The Zassignment was confirmed via KX-rays and the genetic relationship to the wellknown daughter product ²²⁸ Fr. The halflife of ²²⁸ Rn is 65±2 s. Energies and relative intensities of prominent γ-rays are presented for the first time from the decay of both the new isotope ²²⁸ Rn and ²²⁷ Rn.     

Coherent and incoherent particle production off nuclei at high energies

The Glauber-Gribov model for hadronnucleus scattering is extended to multiproduction processes by supplimenting it with the AGK cutting rules. In contrast to the standard Glauber approach neither smallness of the interaction radius compared to the nuclear radii nor Gaussian form of theh-N-interaction profile function are assumed. We consistently use the theory of superciritical Pomeron. However all the results are more general and do not depend on the specific parametrization of the Pomeron pole amplitude. The inelastic screening due to the low mass diffractive excitations is also included. The cross-sections of coherent and incoherent diffractive production of the low mass hadronic states are calculated. We comment on the novel features of particle-nucleus interactions at superhigh energies when the interaction region blows up to the nucleus size. Specifically, one encounters here the rapid rise of the coherent interaction cross-sections and strong suppression of incoherent quasielastic processes.     

Evaporation and fission decay of 132Ce compound nuclei at Ex=122 MeV: some limitations of the statistical model

Light charged particle (LCP) emission in the evaporation residue (ER) and fusion fission (FF) channels have been studied for the 200 MeV ³²S + ¹⁰⁰Mo reaction, leading to ¹³²Ce composite nuclei at E _x =122 MeV. The main goal was to study the decay of ¹³² Ce on the basis of an extended set of observables, to get insights on the fission dynamics. The proton and alpha particle energy spectra, their multiplicities, ER-LCP angular correlations, ER and FF angular distributions, and ER and FF cross-sections were measured. The measured observables were compared with the Statistical Model (SM). Using standard parameters, the model was able to reproduce only the pre-scission multiplicities and the FF and ER cross-sections. The calculation was observed to strongly overestimate the proton and alpha particle multiplicities in the ER channel. Disagreements were also observed for the ER-LCP correlations, the LCP energy spectra and the ER angular distribution. By varying the SM input parameters over a wide range of values, it is shown that it is not possible to reproduce all the observables simultaneously with a unique set of parameters. The inadequacy of the model in reproducing the ER particle multiplicities is also observed analysing data from the literature for other systems in the A ≈ 150 and E _x ≈ 100?200 MeV region. These results indicate serious limitations about the use of the SM in extracting information on fission dynamics.     

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.     

Super-allowed beta decay of nuclei at the drip-line

We have investigated the continuous particle spectra following the beta decay of the neutron-rich nuclei that terminate the mass 6, 8, 9 and 11 isobaric chains. Strong beta transitions feeding the very top of the spectrum are found systematically. The favoured states are within a few MeV of the energy of the initial state. This phenomenon seems to be linked to the occurrence of a di-neutron structure or neutron halo in the drip-line nuclei.Dedicated to Prof. Dr. P. Kienle on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

Catapult mechanism for fast particle emission in fission and heavy ion reactions

The fission process of slabs of nuclear matter is modelled in TDHF approximation by adding an initial collective velocity field to the static self-consistent solution. In dependence on its amplitude either large amplitude density oscillations are excited or fission occurs. The final disintegration of the slab proceeds on a time scale of 10^?22s and is characterized by a sharp peak in the actual velocity field in the region of the “snatching” inner low density tails. A characteristic time later corresponding to the transit time of a nucleon across the fragment with mean velocity being the Fermi velocity plus twice the maximum “snatching” velocity, a low density lump correlated with a peak in the velocity field emerges in front of the fragments. We call these particles “catapult particles”. Recent experimental results possibly provide evidence for catapult neutrons in low-energy fission. We also speculate on the significance of the catapult mechanism for fast particle emission in the exit channel of heavy ion reactions.     

Quantum mechanical scaled particle theory of hard spheres at high temperature

The leading term of the high-temperature quantum corrections to the scaled particle theory of the hard sphere fluid have been obtained. This provides approximate corrections to the pressure, surface tension, and reversible work to create a spherical cavityW(r) of the quantum mechanical hard sphere fluid. A number of exact identities valid for the classical hard sphere fluid are shown to apply also to the quantum mechanical hard sphere fluid, including the fluctuation relation betweenW(r) and the probability of finding a cavity of radius at leastr.     

Dynamical enhanced electron emission and discharges at contaminated surfaces

Broad-area electrodes show electron emission already at electric field strengthsF≈10⁷ V/m. This enhanced field emission (EFE) occurs only for contaminated surfaces. EFE is accompanied by photon emission and gas desorption yielding finally discharges. EFE is caused by dust and contaminants initiating the following effects:

an electron is stochastically emitted in a trigger zone

the electron gains energyΔE?eΔxF ^*

which excites electronic states

which relax by the emission of electrons, photons, and atoms

where the positive charges left behind enhanceF ^*=βF (β?1) initiating so an electron avalanche, i.e., a high conductivity channel. Because of charge migration and neutralization, this avalanche has a life time. This pulsating EFE is accompanied by light emission and gas desorption yielding finally a gas cloud and a discharge.

The pulsating, self-sustained EFE has the same root as:

the enhanced secondary emission found first by Malter

the conductivity switching exhibited by thin (≈ 1 μm) layers of semiconductors or insulators

the normal cathode fall and

the firing-wave instability in neurodynamics.

     

Competition between strong and de-coupling in odd-odd mass nuclei

Competition of strong and decoupling is studied systematically for odd-odd mass nuclei as a function of the position of the Fermi surfacesε _F (π) andε _F (υ) and the deformationsβ andγ. As an example we use⁸⁰Br. For a prolate deformation the odd proton likes to decouple while the odd neutron couples strongly. This favours a ground state angular momentum of 5 to 6. The strong coupling is described by the admixture of ad _5/2 nucleon. Only for the neutrons the admixture is so appreciably that it affects the spectrum and improves the agreement between theory and experiment for⁸⁰Br.