Messung der Kettenlänge für den β-Zerfall der Spaltprodukte bei der thermischen Spaltung von U235

The various masses of fission products of U²³⁵-thermal fission were spacially separated by a helium filled magnetic mass separator. The number and energy of theβ-decays to the stable nuclides were counted and measured by a scintillation spectrometer. The time dependance of theβ-activity andβ-energy of the total of the U²³⁵ fission products was measured. The number ofβ-decays/fission was found to be (6,9±0,4)β-particles fission, the energy liberated byβ-decays (8,1±0,4) MeV/fission. A calculation of the totalβ-decay energy is given and compared with experimental data. The chainlengths ofβ-decay chains as a function of mass of the fission products were measured. Data on prompt neutron emission from fission products combined with the chainlength measurement give the mass dependance of the most probable charge of the primarily formed fission products. A recent model of asymmetric fission is shown to agree with the experimental data. The data give strong evidence that the filled nucleon shells ofZ=50 andN=50 are responsible for the asymmetric fission mechanism.     

Photofission accompanied by pion emission

For the nuclear-fission process induced by photons of energy in the range 150 < E_γ < 600 MeV and accompanied by pion emission, the total cross section; the angular and differential distributions of pions; the excitation-energy, mass, and charge distributions of compound nuclei; and the mass distribution of the fission fragments are predicted on the basis of the cascade-evaporation-fission model. These features are compared for the cases of nuclear fission induced by photons and protons of initial energy in the same range.     

Independent yields of Kr and Xe fragments in the photofission of <Superscript>237</Superscript>Np and <Superscript>243</Superscript>Am odd nuclei

Results are presented that were obtained by measuring the independent yields of Kr (A = 89–93) and Xe (A = 135–142) appearing as fragments in the photofission of ²³⁷Np and ²⁴³Am odd nuclei. The respective experiments were performed in a beam of bremsstrahlung photons from electrons accelerated to an energy of 25 MeV at the microtron of the Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR, Dubna). Use was made of the procedure involving the transportation of fragments emitted from the target by a gas flow along a capillary and the condensation of inert gases in a cryostat at liquid-nitrogen temperature. The identification of Kr and Xe appearing as fragments was performed by the gamma spectra of their daughter products. The mass-number distributions of the independent yields of Kr and Xe isotopes were obtained, along with those for the complementary fragments (Y and La in the fission of ²³⁷Np and Nb and Pr in the fission of ²⁴³Am).     

Stochastic model of angular distributions of fragments originating from the fission of excited compound nuclei

The anisotropy of angular distributions of fission fragments and the average multiplicity of prescission neutrons were calculated within a stochastic approach to fission dynamics on the basis of three-dimensional Langevin equations. This approach was combined with a Monte Carlo algorithm for the degree of freedom K (projection of the total angular momentum I onto the fission axis). The relaxation time τ _K in the coordinate K was considered as a free parameter of the model; it was estimated on the basis of a fit to experimental data on the anisotropy of angular distributions. Specifically, the relaxation time τ _K was estimated at 2 × 10^?21 s for the compound nuclei ²²⁴Th and ²²⁵Pa and at 4 × 10^?21 s for the heavier nuclei ²⁴⁸Cf, ²⁵⁴Fm, and ²⁶⁴Rf. The potential energy was calculated on the basis of the liquid-drop model with allowance for finiteness of the range of nuclear forces and for the diffuseness of the nuclear surface. A modified one-body viscosity mechanism featuring a coefficient k _s that takes into account the reduction of the contribution from the wall formula was used to describe collective-energy dissipation. The coefficient k _s was also treated as a free parameter and was estimated at 0.5 on the basis of a fit to experimental data on the average prescission multiplicity of neutrons.     

Proton induced fission of <Superscript>232</Superscript>Th at intermediate energies

The mass-energy distributions and cross sections of proton-induced fission of ²³²Th have been measured at the proton energies of 7, 10, 13, 20, 40, and 55 MeV. Experiments were carried out at the proton beam of the K-130 cyclotron of the JYFL Accelerator Laboratory of the University of Jyväskylä and U-150m cyclotron of the Institute of Nuclear Physics, Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The yields of fission fragments in the mass range A = 60–170 a.m.u. have been measured up to the level of 10?4%. The three humped shape of the mass distribution up has been observed at higher proton energies. The contribution of the symmetric component grows up with increasing proton incident energy; although even at 55 MeV of proton energy the shoulders in the mass energy distribution clearly indicate the asymmetric fission peaks. Evolution of shell structure was observed in the fission fragment mass distributions even at high excitation energy.     

Untersuchungen von (d,p)- und (d, α)-Reaktionen an B10 und B11

Investigating reaction mechanisms, angular distributions and cross sections of the reaction B¹⁰(d, p) B¹¹ have been measured in the energy interval from 1,4 to 3,3 MeV of deuteron energy. More detailed measurements than until known have shown, that besides the well known stripping mechanism withl _n =1 contributions of compound nucleus formation are not neglectable. Especially atE _d =2,3 MeV,E _X (C¹²)=27,1 MeV, the effect of a single resonance contributes a great deal to the cross section of the groupsp ₁ andp ₃ . Further angular distributions and yield curves between 1,4 and 3,3 MeV have been measured in the (d, α)-reactions on B¹⁰ and B¹¹, showing quite different behaviour for both target nuclei.     

Unified Mechanism behind the Appearance of <Emphasis Type="Italic">T</Emphasis>-Odd TRI and ROT Asymmetries in Actinide Fission Induced by Cold Polarized Neutrons

Some shortcomings of the approaches that are used to describe T-odd ROT and TRI asymmetries in true ternary fission via reactions involving the emission of prescission alpha particles and which are based on employing the classical method of trajectory calculations are analyzed. These shortcomings are caused by the disregard of the interference between the fission widths of different sJ_s neutron resonance states formed in the first well of the deformation potential of fissile compound nuclei. It is shown that the method used in some studies to determine T-odd TRI-asymmetries for prescission alpha particles is at odds with basic concepts of the generalizedmodel of the nucleus and approaches to constructing collective (for example, bending) vibrations of a fissile compound nucleus. Quantum-mechanical fission theory is generalized via employing a unified mechanism of formation of T-odd TRI and ROT asymmetries for prescission alpha particles and evaporated photons (neutrons). The proposed mechanism takes correctly into account the effect of quantum rotation of a fissile compound nucleus on the angular distributions of fission fragments and alpha particles for true ternary fission, as well as on the angular distribution of prompt photons (neutrons) emitted by fragments originating from the delayed fission of the aforementioned nuclei.     

Multimode approach to 241Am and 237Np fission induced by 660-MeV protons

The results obtained by measuring cross sections for the formation of fragments originating from ²⁴¹Am and ²³⁷Np fission induced by 660-MeV protons are presented. The charge and mass distributions of fragments are analyzed within the multimode-fission model, symmetric and asymmetric fission channels being separated. The contributions of various fission components are estimated, and the fission cross sections for the ²⁴¹Am and ²³⁷Np nuclei are calculated along with the fissilities of these nuclei.     

Nucleon-content effect on the fission lifetime of excited nuclei

It was shown previously that the fission lifetime of a nucleus excited to about 100 MeV depends strongly and nonmonotonically on the initial value of its angular momentum L ₀. This result was obtained on the basis of a refined version of the combined dynamical and statistical model. The present study is devoted to a theoretical analysis of the dependence of the fission time on the nucleonic composition of the nucleus involved. The respective calculations were performed within the same model. The dependence of the average fission time 〈t _f 〉 on the initial fissility parameter (Z ²/A)₀ appears to be of a resonance type and is similar to its dependence on L ₀. This dependence of the average fission time on (Z ²/A)₀ stems both from statistical calculations and from a dynamical simulation of the fission mode with allowance for friction. The conditions under which the average fission time reaches a maximum are specified. The dependence of the average fission time on (Z ²/A)₀ remains nonmonotonic in the fusion-fission reaction as well, in which case the distribution of compound nuclei with respect to the initial angular momentum is broad.     

Novel features of the fragment mass variance in fission of hot nuclei

On the basis of data obtained by the incomplete fusion reactions ⁷Li(43A MeV)+²³²Th and ¹⁴N(34A MeV)+¹⁹⁷Au, the energy dependence of the variance (σ _M ² ) of the fragment mass in fission of highly heated nuclei has been investigated for total excitation energies E _tot ^* ranging from 50 up to 350 MeV. The dependence σ _M ² E _tot ^* shows some unexpected features when E _tot ^* exceeds a value of about 70 MeV. After this value, the steady increase of σ _M ² expected from its temperature dependence changes to some kind of plateau between 100 and 200 MeV. Further on, at E _tot ^* in excess of about 250 MeV, the variance is found to increase again sharply. In order to analyze this behavior quantitatively, a dynamical stochastic model has been developed. The model employs the one-body dissipation mechanism and describes the decay of highly excited and rotating nuclei by fission and light-particle evaporation. It satisfactorily explains the measured prior-to-scission neutron multiplicities and the experimental mass variances up to E _tot ^* ?250 MeV, but the stochastic treatment does not reveal any increase in σ _M ² at higher excitation energies in contradiction with the data.     

Classification of <Emphasis Type="Italic">T</Emphasis>-odd asymmetries for prescission and evaporated light particles in ternary and quaternary nuclear fission induced by cold polarized neutrons

A unified mechanism of the emergence of T-odd ROT- and TRI-asymmetries is proposed for describing experimental T-odd asymmetry coefficients D(θ) in the angular distributions of prescission alphaparticles that are emitted in true ternary and quaternary nuclear fission reactions induced by cold polarized neutrons. The mechanism is related to the different ways in which the Coriolis interaction of the total spin of a polarized compound fissile nucleus with the orbital moment of alpha-particles affects even (for ROT-asymmetries) and odd (for TRI-asymmetries) components of the amplitude of an undisturbed angular distribution of emitted alpha-particles. Coefficients D_ROT(θ) and D_TRI(θ) derived with this mechanism for T-odd ROT- and TRI-asymmetries successfully describe the dependences of corresponding experimental coefficients for ²³⁵U and ²³⁹Pu nuclei over the range of angles θ, and for the ²³³U nucleus in the angular range of 60° < θ < 110°. It is explained why only ROT-type T-odd asymmetries emerge for evaporated neutrons and γ-quanta emitted by fission fragments in similar reactions if we allows for the Coriolis interaction of the total spin of the compound fissile nucleus with the orbital moments of the fission fragments and the wriggling vibrations of the above nucleus near its scission point.     

Analysis of fragment mass distribution in asymmetric area at fission of <Superscript>235</Superscript>U induced by thermal neutrons

The fragment mass yields in fission of ²³⁵U induced by thermal neutrons for A = 145–160 and E_K = 50–75 MeV were measured using a mass spectrometer. The fine structure is observed at A = 153, 154 and E_K = 50–60 MeV. The obtained results were described in the framework of a model based on the dinuclear system concept. The analyzed correlation between the total kinetic energy and mass distribution of fission fragments is connected with the shell structure of the formed fragments of fission. From this correlation and the time dependence of the calculated mass distribution of the binary reaction products, one can conclude that the descent time from a saddle point to a scission point for the more deformed fragments is longer than that for fragments of more compact shape.     

Subthreshold photofission of even-even nuclei

Within quantum-mechanical fission theory, the angular distributions of fragments originating from the subthreshold photofission of the even-even nuclei ²³²Th, ²³⁴U, ²³⁶U, ²³⁸U, ²³⁸Pu, ²⁴⁰Pu, and ²⁴²Pu are analyzed for photon energies below 7 MeV. Special features of various fission channels are assessed under the assumption that the fission barrier has a two-humped shape. It is shown that the maximum value of the relative orbital angular momentum L _m of fission fragments can be found upon taking into account deviations from the predictions of A. Bohr’s formula for the angular distributions of fission fragments. The result is L _m ≈ 30. The existence of an “isomeric shelf” for the angular distributions of fragments from ²³⁶U and ²³⁸U photofission in the low-energy region is confirmed.     

Symmetric and asymmetric fission modes in proton-induced fission at 660 MeV of <Superscript>238</Superscript>U

Fission product cross sections of intermediate-energy fission of ²³⁸U were used in order to construct the charge and mass yield distributions. Enriched target of ²³⁸U was irradiated by proton beam with energy 660 MeV for several hours at the LNP Phasotron, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR), Dubna, Russia. The charge distribution of the fission fragments was analyzed for calculation of isobaric cross sections. The mass yield curves were expanded into symmetric and asymmetric components according multimodal fission approach. The fissility values of actinides were calculated at given proton energy. The obtained results have been compared to the same data for targets ²³⁷Np and ²⁴¹Am.     

Probable Decay Modes at Limits of Nuclear Stability of the Superheavy Nuclei

The modes of decay for the even–even isotopes of superheavy nuclei of Z = 118 and 120 with neutron number 160 ≤ N ≤ 204 are investigated in the framework of the axially deformed relativistic mean field model. The asymmetry parameter η and the relative neutron–proton asymmetry of the surface to the center (R _η ) are estimated from the ground state density distributions of the nucleus. We analyze the resulting asymmetry parameter η and the relative neutron–proton asymmetry R _η of the density play a crucial role in the mode(s) of decay and its half-life. Moreover, the excess neutron richness on the surface, facets a superheavy nucleus for β^? decays.     

Formation of Superheavy Elements: Study Based on Dynamical Approach

Using multi-dimensional Langevin equations for the probability distribution of the distance between the surfaces of two approaching nuclei, we have studied the formation of superheavy elements via calculation of evaporation and fission cross sections of these elements. Evaporation residue cross sections have been calculated for the 1n, 2n, 3n, 4n, and 5n evaporation channels using one and four dimensional Langevin equations for the ⁴⁸Ca+²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, ²³⁸U, ²³⁷Np, ^{239,240,242,244}Pu, ²⁴³Am, ^245,248Cm, ²⁴⁹Bk, and ²⁴⁹Cf reactions. Our results show that with increasing dimension of Langevin equations the evaporation residue cross section is increased. Also, obtained results based on fourdimensional Langevin are in better agreement with experimental data in comparison with one-dimensional model.     

Measurement of polarization angular coefficients in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Z</Emphasis> boson leptonic decays with ATLAS at the LHC

This paper presents the complete set of polarization angular coefficients A _0?7 describing lepton angular distributions in Z boson decay, which were measured at the ATLAS experiment in proton–proton collisions with the energy √s = 8 TeV. Theoretical values for the difference A ₀ ? A ₂ calculated in the fixed-order QCD perturbation theory O(α _s ² ), demonstrate significant deviation from the measured data, which indicates the necessity of taking into account higher order corrections. The evidence of nonzero coefficients A _5,6,7 was obtained for the first time, in accordance with theoretical calculations in O(α _s ² ) approximation. Measurement of the polarization angular coefficients A _i is important for subsequent precision measurement of parameters of the electroweak model at the LHC, such as the sine of Weinberg electroweak mixing angle sin² θ _W and the W boson mass.     

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.