Influence of fission fragment nuclear structure on scission configuration in252Cf (S.F.)

With the aim of investigating the influence of fragment nuclear structure e.g. shell closure configuration and odd-even nature on the scission configuration, fragment angular momenta have been deduced from the radiochemically determined independent isomeric yield ratios of the fission products¹¹¹Pd,¹³¹Te,¹³³Te,¹³⁴I and¹³⁸Cs in²⁵²Cf spontaneous fission. The fragments' angular momenta deduced are 8.8± 1.5, 5.8 ±1.0, 6.1±1.1, 11.5±1.1 and 9.8±1.2 ? respectively. The angular momenta data from this work and literature have been analysed to arrive at fragments' deformations at the scission bringing out the influence of the spherical 82n and deformed 66n and 88n shells. The fragment angular momenta were also seen to be inversely correlated to their elemental yields exhibiting odd-even fluctuations. This has been explained in terms of equilibration of the collective degrees of freedom in low energy fission.     

Effect of entrance channel parameters on fission fragment angular momentum in medium energy fission

Independent isomeric yield ratios of¹³²I were radiochemically determined in alpha particle induced fission of²³⁸U in the energy range 25–44 MeV. Fission fragment angular momenta were deduced from the measured isomeric yield ratios using spin dependent statistical model analysis. It was seen that angular momentum of¹³²I increases with increase of excitation energy and angular momentum of the fissioning nucleus. Comparison of the present data on¹³²I in²³⁸U(α,f) with the literature data for the same product in²³⁸U(p, f) and²³⁸U(γ, f) at various excitation energies show that fragment angular momentum strongly depends on the input angular momentum in the range of excitation energy considered. Experimental fragment angular momentum at all excitation energies were seen to be in agreement with the theoretical values calculated based on thermal equilibration of the various collective rotational degrees after considering the occurence of multichance fission. Thus, strong effect of input angular momentum as well as the statistical equilibration among the various collective rotational degrees of freedom in medium energy fission is corroborated.     

Large contribution of deep inelastic processes to reactions of40Ar and48Ca with238U

Differential recoil range distributions have been measured for heavy-reaction products ranging from Te(Z=52) to quasielastic transfer products near the charge and mass of the targets for the reactions of 276 MeV⁴⁸Ca+²³⁸U, 237MeV and 250 MeV⁴⁰Ar+²³⁸U, and 259 MeV⁴⁰Ar+¹⁹⁷Au. The measured recoil range distributions for the⁴⁰Ar+¹⁹⁷Au reaction agree with range distributions calculated from the known projectile-like fragment angular distributions for this reaction. The angular distributions of recoil products formed in the uranium target reactions are deduced and show that the products in the₇₅Re to₈₃Bi region have backward peaked angular distributions characteristic of deep inelastic reactions. The heavy product angular distributions smoothly vary from a (1/sinθ) shape to an exponential shaped backward peak as the atomic number of the product increases from 52 to 83. The trend in the deduced angular distributions for those elements for which recoil range distributions were determined in the⁴⁰Ar+¹⁹⁷Au reaction and the 250 MeV⁴⁰Ar+²³⁸U reaction is similar, suggesting that just as for the Ar+Au system the composite system for the uranium target reaction is also not fully equilibrated along the mass asymmetry coordinate. These conclusions show that the fraction of the total reaction cross section resulting in complete fusion must be re-evaluated for the⁴⁰Ar+²³⁸U reaction and similar heavy-target reactions.     

Fragment spin distribution in 400 MeV40Ar+93Nb collisions investigated by light-particle anisotropies

In and out-of-plane angular correlations between light particles and projectile-like fragments from deeply inelastic collisions of 400 MeV⁴⁰Ar+⁹³Nb were measured. At backward angles, the equilibrium emission of a particles and protons from the target-like fragment was identified. By analysing the out-of-plane angular correlations in the framework of a semi-classical statistical model, an average spin of 30±2? and an average alignment ofP _zz =0.80±0.15 for the target-like fragment were deduced.     

The probability of prompt and delayed fission of muonic237Np

Fission fragments from the reaction²³⁷Np(μ ^?,γ,f) have been measured in coincidence with muonic X-rays. The efficiency of the fission fragment detector is determined from (μ ^?,γ,f)-data of the same experiment. The total fission probability perμ-stopP _t has been measured as well as the fission probabilities P_f of the non-radiative muonic (3d→1s)- and (2p→1s)-transitions; the latter has been divided into two parts leading to different mean excitation energiesE:P _t =(54±17)%,P _f (3d→1s)=(41±21)%,P _f (2p→1s,E=6.218 MeV)=(61±19)%, andP _f (2p→1s,E=6.525 MeV)=(57±18)%. The influence of the muon on the fission barrier is discussed. The fission probability after muon capture is compared with a calculated value using a distribution of nuclear excitation energies following muon capture and the fission probability as measured in a²³⁸U(³He,αf)-reaction.     

Angular momentum,statistical equilibrium and sequential fission in very asymmetric systems

The in-and out-of-plane angular distributions for fission fragments in coincidence with projectile-like products from the reaction of 252 MeV²⁰Ne with¹⁹⁷Au and²³⁸U have been measured. The results are compared to a statistical model which has successfully explainedγ-ray anisotropies from a heavy symmetric system. The agreement is rather good after proper consideration of the direction of the line-of-centers at contact.     

Isomeric yield ratios of fission products in the system of 24 MeV proton-induced fission of238U

Isomeric yield ratios of 30 fission products in 24 MeV proton-induced fission of²³⁸U were measured by the use of the ion-guide isotope separator on-line. The obtained isomeric yield ratios were converted to the angular momenta of primary fission fragments based on the statistical model. The deduced angular momenta were examined from various aspects. It is found that in general the angular momentum continuously increases with the fragment mass number including the region of symmetric mass division. However, there are some exceptions. For Sn isotopes the deduced angular momenta are quite small due to the spherical shape of the nuclear shell configuration. It is also concluded from the consideration of the charge distribution that the angular momentum of fission product scatters considerably within the narrow range of mass division. The dependence of the angular momentum on the available energy of fragments at scission point indicates that the individual fragment possesses a characteristic deformation at scission and/or the deduced angular momentum is seriously affected by the particle excitation after scission.     

Kernphotoeffekt an Aluminium und Fluor mit der Lithium-Resonanz-Strahlung

Fragments from thermal fission of U²³⁵ have been slowed down in purified Ar and N₂. Ionization by reactor radiation produced sufficient free electrons in the gas to permit formation of negative fission product ions by electron attachment. These negative ions were collected in an ionization chamber. Theγ-radiation of the activated electrode showed that mainly J and Te had been collected. By analysis of theγ-spectra the independent fission yieldsη(J¹³⁵)=(4,6±1,1)% andη(Te¹³⁵)=(1,5±1,1)% were found. In the derivation of this result an estimated valueη(Te¹³⁴)=(6±0,7)% was used.     

Level density parameters of47Ti and50V

The energy distribution of the protons andα-particles from the reactions⁴⁷Ti(α, α′),⁴⁷Ti(α, p) and⁵⁰V(p, α) was measured in the angular range from 60° to 150°. The energies of the incoming particles were 15.35 MeV forα-particles and 13.85 MeV for protons. The results can be described in the frame of the statistical model of the nuclear reactions. The level density parameters could be determined by comparing the experimental data with the theoretical results. The values for the backshifted Fermi gas model are⁴⁷Ti:a=6.6±0.6MeV^?1,Δ=?0.5±0.3 MeV⁵⁰V:a=6.3±0.6 MeV^?1,Δ=?1.0±0.3 MeV.     

Correlations of fission fragment angular momentum with collective and intrinsic degrees of freedom

In the present work angular momenta of the fragments corresponding to¹³²I^m,g have been deduced from the radiochemically determined independent isomeric yield ratios and statistical model based analysis in neutron induced fission of²³⁵U,²³⁹Pu and²⁴⁵Cm and spontaneous fission of²⁵²Cf. These data along with similar data on¹³⁴I, reported earlier from this laboratory, bring out the effects of deformed 66n and spherical 82n shells on fragment angular momentum showing also an inverse correlation of the latter with elemental yields. Quantitative estimates of fragment scission point deformation and the coefficient of change of fragment angular momentum with kinetic/excitation energy have been deduced and are seen to be in good agreement with the expected theoretical estimates.     

Mass asymmetry dependence of angular distribution in237Np(α29 and 44 MeV,f): single particle effect

Angular distributions of fission products have been measured as a function of mass asymmetry in the odd-Z ²³⁷Np(α_{29 and 44 MeV},f) system using a recoil-catcher technique and off-line gamma spectrometry. Higher angular anisotropies were observed for the asymmetric mode products compared to the symmetric mode products at both energies. Average anisotropies for individual modes are lower than those for neighbouring even-even fissioning nucleus²⁴²Pu due to odd-nucleon spin effect. Present data have been analysed according to the transition state model assuming two modes of fission with characteristic saddle-shapes, barriers and multichance fission probabilities. It is seen that angular distributions for the symmetric and asymmetric modes are decided at and well past the corresponding saddle points respectively. Odd-nucleon spin contribution (〈k ²〉) to the tilting mode variance have been deduced. For (²⁴¹)Am fission, 〈k ²〉 values for the asymmetric and symmetric modes are ≤ 14 and > 14 ?² respectively. The 〈k ²〉 value averaged over several nuclei from preactinide (²⁰¹Ti) to actinide (²⁴⁸Cf) is 11.5 ± 4.2 ?². Average 〈k ²〉 value is in close agreement with the theoretical estimate.     

Photofission of nuclei with allowance for wriggling vibrations of fissioning nuclei

It is confirmed that one source of the large relative orbital momenta L of fragments in spontaneous and stimulated low-energy nuclear fission is quantum transverse zero-point wriggling vibrations of the fissioning system near its scission point. The angular distributions of fragments of low-energy photofission of actinide nuclei, calculated using the quantum theory of fission, are compared. Vibrations are allowed for by using parameter C _w determined by Nix and Swiatecki. Agreement between the experimental and theoretical angular distributions for ²³⁴U, ²³⁶U, ²³⁸U, ²³⁸Pu, ²⁴⁰Pu, ²⁴²Pu nuclei is observed. The strong sensitivity of the theoretical angular distributions for ²³⁸Pu, ²⁴⁰Pu, ²⁴²Pu nuclei toward the choice of parameters of transient fissioning states at the external and internal fission barriers is demonstrated.     

Innere Konversion der 161 keV- und 223 keV-Übergänge in133Cs

Using a Ge(Li)-Si (Li)-spectrometer the 161 keV and 223 keV transitions of¹³³Cs were investigated. TheK-conversion coefficients were deduced to beα _K =0.205±0.007 andK-conversion coefficients were deduced to beα _K =0.0743±0.0043, respectively. TheK/L ratio for the 161 keV transition is 4.72±0.37. From theK-conversion coefficients were deduced to beα _K -values,M1 penetration factors ofλ=8.6±3.4 andλ=7.8 _?2.8 ^3.0 were deduced which are inconsistent with known data from angular correlation experiments (λ=40±10 andλ=90±13). The penetration factor fromK/L-measurement for the 161 keV-transition isλ=52±19. A theoretical reinvestigation of the formulas used in the literature appears recommendable. Furthermore, theK/L ratio of the 1770 keV transition of²⁰⁷Pb was determined experimentally to be 5.52±0.54.     

Fission fragment angular distribution in alpha-particle-induced fission of actinide elements

Using Lexan polycarbonate plastic as the fission fragment track detectors, the fragment angular distributions have been measured in the cases of fission of²³²Th and²³⁸U induced by alpha particles of various energies ranging from 40 to 70MeV obtained from the 88″ variable energy cyclotron at Calcutta. The center-of-mass angular distributions have been calculated and fitted by a series of Legendre polynomials. TheW(10°)/W(90°) ratios (defined as anisotropy) were measured at several energies for both the targets. These data are utilized in calculation of the energy dependence ofK ₀ ² , the standard deviation of the distribution in the angular momentum projection on the nuclear symmetry axis at the saddle point. Values of Γ _f /Γ _η , i.e. the ratio of the fission width to neutron emission width have been determined for²³²Th and²³⁸U nuclei. The integral cross-section for alpha induced fission in each target was determined by numerical integration of the respective center-of-mass angular differential cross-sections. The results were compared with similar data available in the literature which served to resolve some of the discrepancies observed in earlier measurements. The results were also compared with theoretical cross-sections.     

Measurement of fast neutron induced fission cross section of thorium using Lexan plastic track detector

Fission-track registration characteristics of Lexan solid state nuclear track detectors have been used to measure the fast neutron induced fission cross section of²³²Th. The fast neutrons (?14.2MeV) were produced with the help of an AN-400 model Van-de-Graaff accelerator at Banaras Hindu University laboratory using³H(²H,n)⁴He reaction and were used to irradiate the fissile target deposited on the plastic detector. The track densityT, registered on the plastic detector is related to the fission cross sectionσ _f, through the relationT=knσ _føt wheren is the number of fissile atoms per cm² in the deposit, ø is the neutron flux,k is fission track registration efficiency andt is the time of irradiation. The fission cross sectionσ _f of²³²Th, relative to the well measured fission cross section of²³⁸U, was found to be 0.36±0.04 barn.     

Inclusive resonance production in 7.3 GeV/c\bar pp interactions

We present results on inclusive baryon and meson resonance production in \(\bar pp\) interactions at 7.3 GeV/c. Total inclusive and semi-inclusive cross sections are given for Δ(1232),∑ ^*(1385), ?⁰,f andK ^*±(892) production. For the meson resonances separation into annihilation and non-annihilation components has been made, the annihilation component being dominant at this energy. We find that the energy dependence of inclusive cross sections for ?⁰ production inpp interactions and \(\bar pp\) non-annihilations shows a type of scaling behaviour previously reported for ?, ψ, ψ′ and ? production inpp interactions.Δ ⁺⁺, ?⁰ andK ^*± production are studied in terms of Feynmanx,y ^* andp _T ² . For the vector mesons we compare they ^* andx dependences with the predictions of simple quark models.     

Electromagnetic and nuclear fission of238U in the reaction of 100, 500, and 1000 A·MeV208Pb with238U

The folding- and azimuthal-angle and velocity distributions for the²³⁸U fission fragments have been measured in reactions with 100, 500, and 1000 A·MeV²⁰⁸Pb. These distributions were used to decompose the fission cross section into its electromagnetic and nuclear components. The fraction of electromagnetic fission was found to be 0.16±0.07, 0.48±0.08, and 0.60±0.04, respectively. The electromagnetic fission cross section as a function of the²⁰⁸Pb nucleus energy is compared with theoretical predictions. The measured fission cross section from nuclear reactions (≈1.5 b) is approximately constant between 100 and 1000 A·MeV.     

Angular momentum bearing modes and nuclear structure effects in12C-induced fission

The angular momenta of the fragments produced in several 100 and 180 MeV¹²C induced fission reactions have been investigated usingγ-ray multiplicity (M _λ) techniques. The averageM _λ increases with both the bombarding energy and the total mass of the system. The dependence ofM _λ on mass asymmetry is generally rather weak, except in regions near shell closures, where local minima are observed. The magnitudes ofM _λ tend to be larger than expected on the basis of rigid rotation, possibly due to the excitation of collective modes. A comparison is made with a statistical model.     

Population of the 236U shape isomer in a photonuclear reaction

A fission isomer with a half-life of 115 ± 5 ns and a yield ratio Y_iso/Y_prompt = (2.02 ± 0.16) × 10^?5 was observed in bremsstrahlung-induced fission of natural uranium. The isomer is ascribed to ²³⁶U populated via a ²³⁸U(γ, 2n) reaction. The integrated cross section for isomeric fission is determined to be σ_int = 32 ± 6 μb MeV. Comparing this value with a calculated total isomer production cross section, a branching ratio of the isomer decay of Γ^γ_II/Γ^f_II ≈ 6 can be deduced.