Spectroscopy of neutron deficient 108Te

The neutron deficient nucleus ¹⁰⁸Te was studied in the ⁵⁴Fe(⁵⁸Ni,2p2n) reaction. A detector system consisting of 4 Euroball cluster detectors, a charged-particle detector ball and a 16 element neutron multiplicity filter was used to detect the emitted particles and γ rays. A new, significantly extended level scheme was constructed on the basis of γγ-coincidence relations. Spin values for the states were determined from angular distribution ratios. The experimental results are discussed in terms of the shell model. Received: 7 September 1998     

Few-valence-particle excitations around doubly magic 132Sn

Prompt γ-ray cascades in neutron-rich nuclei around doubly-magic ¹³²Sn have been studied using a ²⁴⁸Cm fission source. Yrast states located in the N = 82 isotones ¹³⁴Te and ¹³⁵I are interpreted as valence proton and neutron particle-hole core excitations with the help of shell model calculations employing empirical nucleon-nucleon interactions from both ¹³²Sn and ²⁰⁸Pb regions.     

Die Reaktion54Xe(n, α)52Te mit Neutronen der Energie 12,5 bis 18,0 MeV

The reaction₅₄Xe(n, α)₅₂Te was investigated in the neutron energy range 12.5 to 18.0 MeV. A high pressure gas scintillator filled either with pure xenon of natural isotopic abundance or with a mixture of xenon and helium was used as a target and as a detector simultaneously. The helium served as a monitor, (n, α)-spectra were measured and analyzed by evaporation theory. Large components of direct processes were found. The level density parameter of⁵²Te was determined as (17.0±1.7) MeV^?1. The cross section excitation function is given as well as the branching ratios for evaporation and direct processes as a function of neutron energy.     

Measuring fluence of fast neutrons with planar silicon detectors

The results of measurements of 1-MeV (Si) equivalent fast neutron fluence with silicon planar detectors are reported. The measurement method is based on the linear dependence of the reverse detector current increment on the neutron fluence: ΔI = α _I × Φ × V. This technique provides an opportunity to measure the equivalent fluence in a wide dynamic range from 108 to 10¹⁶ cm^–2 with an unknown neutron energy spectrum and without detector calibration. The proposed method was used for monitoring in radiation resistance tests of different detector types at channel no. 3 of IBR-2 and for determining the fluence of fission and leakage neutrons at the KVINTA setup.     

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.     

Dipole excitations in 122Te, 126Te and 130Te

Excited states of the nuclei ¹²²Te, ¹²⁶Te and ¹³⁰Te were populated via the (γ, γ') reaction at endpoint energies of the bremsstrahlung between 4.5 and 5.5 MeV. Gamma rays were detected with a EUROBALL-CLUSTER detector and a single detector. In all nuclei several dipole transitions were identified at energies around 3 MeV. The lowest corresponding J = 1 states are interpreted as two-phonon excitations. Quasiparticle-phonon-model calculations predict one 1^? state arising from the coupling of the first quadrupole and the first octupole phonon and one 1⁺ state arising from the coupling of the first and the isovector second quadrupole phonon at about 3 MeV. The calculated transition strengths are compatible with experimental ones.     

Spectroscopy of neutron deficient 65Ge

Excited states of ⁶⁵Ge were populated via the ¹²C + ⁵⁸Ni (261 MeV) reaction using the NORDBALL detector array equipped with charged-particle and neutron detector systems for reaction channel separation. On the basis of γγ-coincidence relations and angular distribution ratios a significantly extended level scheme was constructed up to E _x = 9 MeV and J ^π = (33/2^?). The low-energy states of the nucleus are discussed in the framework of the interacting boson-fermion model.     

Rotational and vibrational states in 115Te

High-spin states of the ¹¹⁵Te were studied by in-beam spectroscopy with the ⁸⁹Y (²⁹Si, p2n) fusion-evaporation reaction at a beam energy of 108 MeV. γ?γ coincidence and γ?γ angular correlation analyses were employed for determining the level scheme of ¹¹⁵Te. We have identified two vibrational-like bands built on the νh_11/2 and νg_7/2 quasiparticle states and the noncollective oblate states from the full alignment of quasiparticle configurations. In addition, a regular ΔI = 2 sequence with positive-parity was found for the first time in odd-A Te nuclei. This sequence is interpreted as a deformed structure resulting from three-quasiparticle alignment having the [π(g_7/2, h _11/2) ? ν(h _11/2)] configuration. Calculations of total Routhian surfaces and cranked shell model were performed and were used for assigning quasiparticle configurations to the states in ¹¹⁵Te.     

Study of the133Cs(γ,n)132Cs reaction

The photoneutron spectrum from the¹³³Cs(γ, n)¹³²Cs reaction induced by 9.720 MeV neutron capture gamma-rays has been studied with a³He-spectrometer. The energies and relative intensities of the emitted neutrons were determined. AQ-value of 8,986 +/?2 keV is suggested. The data reveal the existence of seventeen excited states in¹³²Cs in the region up to 551 keV.     

Neutron multiplicities in inelastic collisions of132Xe with197Au

Neutrons have been detected in coincidence with charged reaction products in inelastic scattering of 7.5 MeV/u¹³²Xe ions from¹⁹⁷Au. The deduced neutron multiplicities associated with the heavy and light fragment, respectively, are roughly proportional to the total kinetic energy loss, and their ratios are close to the Au-Xe mass ratio for allQ-values. These results and the measured neutron energy spectra are consistent with the assumptions of thermal equilibrium between the fragments at scission, and of neutron emission from fully accelerated fragments. For deep inelastic events, the measured absolute multiplicities are smaller than expected from statistical model calculations, but an effect due to pre-equilibrium emission of particles — as suggested by an earlier analysis of the present data [1] — cannot be definitely established.     

The determination of the beta decay energies of105–108In

Theβ ⁺-spectra of the neutron deficient indium nuclei, produced in the reaction^natMo(¹⁶O,pxn), have been measured using a solid state beta detector, and mass separated sources. Values forQ _EC have been determined for^105–108In anc for¹⁰⁵Cd and¹⁰⁶Ag.     

In-beam gamma-ray spectroscopy of 116Te

High-spin states of the even-even ¹¹⁶Te were studied by in-beam g-ray spectroscopy using the ¹⁰³Rh (¹⁶O, p2n) fusion-evaporation reaction at a beam energy of 80 MeV. γ-γ coincidence and γ-γ angular correlation analyses were employed for determining the level scheme of ¹¹⁶Te. Levels up to I^π = 27^? and several new states were established. We identified two rotational bands with negative parity, one of which was newly established in the present work. We suggest that such two bands be associated with two proton [(g_7/2) ? (h_11/2)] and two neutron [(d_5/2) ? (h_11/2)] configurations, respectively.     

Preliminary results of the experiment on search for neutron nuclei on a nuclear reactor

An experiment on search for neutron nuclei in the reaction of neutron-induced fission of ²³⁵U nuclei has been performed on a nuclear reactor. The hypothetical reaction ¹²²Te(^xn, (x ? k)n)^{122 + k} Te → (β^?) → ^{122 + k} I (x = k ≥ 10) has been investigated. The radiochemical method for selecting iodine isotopes from tellurium was used. The upper limit on the probability of formation of neutron clusters has been obtained: P _k ≤ 10^?8 (fission)^?1 for ¹¹n clusters and P _k ≤ 10^?9 (fission)^?1 for ¹¹n clusters.     

Identification of gamma transitions from He and Be ternary fission fragments

He and Be ternary fission processes of ²⁵²Cf have been studied in two experiments with the Gammasphere detector array with light charged particle detectors surrounding the source. From α-γ double gated spectra, neutron multiplicity distributions were determined for related α ternary fission pairs. In going from binary to α ternary SF for approximately the same mass splittings (A ≈ 104–146) the average neutron multiplicity decreases about 0.7 AMU. In the first light charged particle (LCP) γ-γ experiment, the ¹⁰Be spectrum was cutoff below 27 MeV and in the recent experiment, below 18 MeV. For high energy (E > 27 MeV) ¹⁰Be ternary fission, the data indicate that the largest yields go via the cold process (zero neutron evaporation). In the recent experiment with E cutoff of 18 MeV, the ¹⁰Be ternary SF was observed for zero to 4n emissions. It seems that in some cases like ¹³⁶Te, the On channel is the strongest and in the other cases like ¹⁰⁰Zr the 1n or 2n channel dominates. Clearly, there is a shift to lower average number of neutrons emitted for ¹⁰Be compared to α ternary SF. The ¹⁰⁴Zr and ¹³⁶Te cases where zero neutron emission occurs may be related to the fact that these nuclei are near the limits of the more neutron rich Zr and Te nuclei observed. The ¹³⁶Te is more spherical than the heavy partners in the other pairs and this may influence the 0n channel. Finally, the 0n channel may be more enhanced in the first data with the higher ¹⁰Be energy cutoff, leading to lower excitation energy. Also, we confirmed the 3368 keV peak with the FWHM of 60 keV emitted from the moving Be particles in the Doppler effect corrected spectrum.     

Dosimetry and spectrometry at accelerator based neutron source for boron neutron capture therapy

An innovative accelerator-based neutron source for boron neutron capture therapy has started operation at the Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics, Novosibirsk. This facility is based on a compact vacuum insulation tandem accelerator designed to produce proton current up to 10 mA. Epithermal neutrons are proposed to be generated by 1.915 MeV protons bombarding a lithium target using ⁷Li(p,n)⁷Be threshold reaction.In the article, techniques to detect neutron and gamma-rays at the facility are described. Gamma radiation is measured with NaI and BGO gamma-spectrometers. The total yield of neutrons is determined by measuring the 477 keV γ-quanta from beryllium decay. For the rough analysis of the generated neutron spectrum we used bubble detectors. As the epithermal neutrons are of interest for neutron capture therapy the NaI detector is used as activation detector. We plan to use a time-of-flight technique for neutron spectra measurement. To realize this technique a new solution of short time neutron generation is proposed.     

Determination of the neutron binding energy of the delayed neutron emitter137Xe

The neutron binding energy of¹³⁷Xe has been deduced to be 4025.2±0.6 keV from a study of the¹³⁶Xe(n, γ)¹³⁷Xe reaction. The importance of a precise value for this quantity is due to the fact that an accurate determination of binding energies of delayed neutron emitters is possible only for⁸⁷Kr and¹³⁷Xe, neighbouring stable isotopes. Nuclear reaction.¹³⁶Xe(n,γ), enriched target; measurede89-01, deduced neutron binding energy, Ge(Li) detector.     

Yrast excitations in A = 126–131 Te nuclei from deep inelastic 130Te+64Ni reactions

Thick target γγ coincidence measurements for the system ¹³⁰Te + 275 MeV ⁶⁴Ni have been performed using the GASP Ge detector array at Legnaro. For the isotopic assignments of previously unknown γ-ray cascades, prompt γγ coincidences observed between Te and Ni partner products were of vital importance. The results yield much new information about excited states of moderate spins in A = 126–131 tellurium nuclei, especially about yrast excitations of the little studied odd-A isotopes ¹²⁷Te, ¹²⁹Te, and ¹³¹Te. Level systematics of tellurium nuclei are presented, and both single-particle and collective aspects of the level spectra are discussed.     

The excitation function of the 13C(α, n)16O reaction and its astrophysical application

Neutron-liberating reactions as well as neutron absorbing processes play important parts in the synthesis of elements in a star and in the different phases of its life sequence. Thus the ¹³C(α, n)¹⁶O reaction is of interest for instance in connection with processes such as hydrostatic and explosive burning, as well as in the synthesis of oxygen and other light elements. A good knowledge of the energy dependence of the cross section of the alpha-carbon reaction is evidently of importance. In the present work the neutron yield from a thick ¹³C target was measured for α-particles in the energy range 0.60 to 1.15 MeV with a sensitive 4π neutron detector. Stellar temperatures between 3.5 and 9.2 × 10⁸ K are involved in this energy region. The observed neutron yield curve was used to determine astrophysical cross section factors S(E) as well as parameters for the 1.056 MeV resonance. Starting from these quantities, an expression for the mean lifetime of ¹³C nuclei interacting with helium was derived.     

Precise determination of neutron binding energy of <Superscript>64</Superscript>Cu

The neutron binding energy in ⁶⁴Cu has been accurately measured in thermal neutron capture. A composite target of natural Cu and NaCl was used on a high flux neutron beam using a large measuring time. The γ-ray spectrum emitted in the (n, γ) reaction was measured with a HPGe detector in large statistics (up to 10⁶ events per channel). Intrinsic limitations of HPGe detectors, which restrict the accuracy of energy calibration, were determined. The value B _n of ⁶⁴Cu was determined as 7915.867(24) keV.