Exotic decay: Transition from cluster mode to fission mode

Exotic decay of some heavy nuclei with Z≥100 formed in heavy ion ‘cold fusion’ reaction were studied taking interacting barrier consisting of Coulomb and proximity potential. Calculated half-life time shows that some modes of decay are well within the present upper limit for measurements (T _1/2<10³⁰ s). Cluster formation probabilities are calculated for different clusters within fission model. It is found that transition from cluster mode to fission mode take place at mass of the cluster, A ₂=20 in exotic decay which is comparable with the value A ₂=16 of Shanmugam et al based on cubic plus Yukawa plus exponential model (CYEM).     

Cubic potential models for cluster radioactivity

Cluster radioactivity is a process by which nuclei equal and heavier than the α-particle is emitted spontaneously. The clusters usually emitted in this process are the α-particle, carbon, oxygen, neon, magnesium, silicon etc. When the mass of the cluster becomes comparable with the mass of the daughter, symmetric fission takes place. Thus the cluster radioactivity is an intermediate process between the well known α-decay and the spontaneous fission. In earlier years such cluster radioactivity was found mostly in actinide nuclei like radium, uranium etc. Very recently it has been predicted that such decays are possible in a new region around ¹¹¹Ba. There has been an exciting experimental detection of the emission of ¹²C from ¹¹¹Ba leading to ¹⁰²Sn, which is attracting a lot of attention recently. To study the phenomenon of cluster radioactivity there are various theoretical models in vogue. The existing models generally fall under two categories: the unified fission model (UFM) and the preformed cluster model (PCM). The physics of the UFM and the PCM are completely different. The UFM considers cluster radioactivity simply as a barrier penetration phenomenon in between the fission and the α-decay without worrying about the cluster being or not being preformed in the parent nucleus. In the PCM clusters are assumed to be preborn in a parent nucleus before they could penetrate the potential barrier with a given Q-value. The basic assumption of the UFM is that heavy clusters as well as the α-particle have equal probability of being preformed. In PCM, clusters of different sizes have different probabilities of their being preformed in the parent nucleus. We have developed three fission models during the last decade using the cubic potential for the pre-scission region. The use of these models in the study of cluster radioactivity in both the actinide and barium regions will be discussed in this talk in comparison with the other existing theories.     

Critical temperature for the nuclear liquid-gas phase transition (from multifragmentation and fission)

Critical temperature T _c for the nuclear liquid-gas phase transition is estimated from both the multifragmentation and fission data. In the first case, the critical temperature is obtained by analysis of the intermediate-mass-fragment yields in p(8.1 GeV) + Au collisions within the statistical model of multifragmentation. In the second case, the experimental fission probability for excited ¹⁸⁸Os is compared with the calculated one with T _c as a free parameter. It is concluded for both cases that the critical temperature is higher than 15 MeV. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

On the multiple-humped fission barriers and half-lives of actinides

The energy of actinide nuclei has been determined within a generalized liquid drop model taking into account the proximity energy, the mass and charge asymmetry, an accurate nuclear radius in adding the shell and pairing energies. Double and triple-humped potential barriers appear. The second maximum corresponds to the transition from compact and creviced one-body shapes to two touching ellipsoids. A third minimum and third peak appear in special asymmetric exit channels where one fragment is almost a magic nucleus with a quasi-spherical shape while the other one evolves from oblate to prolate shapes. The heights of the double and triple-humped fission barriers agree precisely with the experimental results in all the actinide region. The predicted half-lives follow the experimental data trend.     

Asymmetry of mass and charge division in spontaneous fission

The order-disorder model has been used to explain asymmetry of mass and charge division and related phenomena in fission. According to this model the fission process involves two steps consisting of charge polarisation into two ‘impending fragment clusters’ with beta stable neutron numbers and subsequent distribution of the balance neutrons between the two. Mode of elemental division of the fissioning nuclei is attributed to the charge polarisation in the first step. Theory of reaction rate has been applied to the system. The frequency term is obtained by applying the conditional stochastic process under charge polarisation constraint and the energy-dependent term is given by the condition of minimum in free energy of the system. Using this, the relative probability of polarisation into given charge pair is arrived at. The model uses stable neutron numbers for the charges as the only input. No explicit assumption or quantification on the preference of formation of shell closure species in fission is necessary. The statistics developed on the principle of equala priori probability of all charge polarisation is used. The shell effects come into play only in deciding a stable neutron number for the charges. The total isotopic yield distribution for a number of fission reactions shows asymmetry in the actinide region which reduces with increasing mass/charge of the fissioning nuclide and bunching of the higherz peaks. Although the mass yields obtained therefrom for a number of fission reactions agree with experimental results, the peaks of the distributions are slightly shifted away from the symmetric point and the distributions are somewhat narrower. Charge distribution parameters obtained from these results are also presented.     

Calculated effects of charge fluctuations on the phonon dispersion of YBa2Cu3O6 and YBa2Cu3O7. II. Results

Using the model presented in the preceding paper we investigate the effects of charge fluctuations (CF) on the phonon dispersion of YBa₂Cu₃O₆ (O₆) and YBa₂Cu₃O₇ (O₇). Starting from an ab-initio rigid-ion model as a reference system, CF are allowed for at the copper- and oxygen ions. The CF are treated as adiabatic electronic degrees of freedom. Within the rigid-ion model (RIM) the structural parameters are calculated by minimization of the energy. The results agree reasonably well with the experiment, indicating the suitability of the ionic model as a starting point and the importance of ionic forces for the properties of the high-temperature superconductors (HTSC) in general. Next, the phonon dispersion is calculated in the RIM as well as including CF additionally and the renormalization of the individual modes is discussed. By restricting the CF optionally to the planes, effects arising specifically from CF in the planes on the one hand and from CF in the chain as well as at the axial bridging oxygens (O4) on the other hand can be separated. We find the oxygen axial modes at the γ- and Z point (A_1g/A_2μ in O₆, A_g/B_1μ in O₇) particularly interesting. Most of these modes show considerable renormalizations. Moreover, the γ/Z-axial modes are characterized by the possibility of having CF of the same sign in the whole CuO planes what distinguishes them from the modes at other symmetry points. In particular, the Z-point axial modes are singular in having CF of alternating sign in consecutive structural units in c direction. Such a “c-direction-charge-transfer” has been shown previously to be an effective screening mechanism in La₂CuO₄. Indeed, we find a drastic renormalization of the plane-oxygen A_g mode at the Z point (A_g(O23;Z)) in O₇ (oxygen ions in neighboring planes vibrating in-phase), at least in the adiabatic approximation used here. In the insulating phase this mode exhibits, on the other hand, very large changes of the potential at the ion sites, whereas its renormalization is moderate only. The reason for this behaviour is that in the insulating phase in case of a two-dimensional electronic structure the charge transfer (screening) is restricted locally in the structural unit and long-range charge transfer is not possible as in the metal. However, a strong suppression of screening for this mode can also be expected for the metallic phase in O₇ in case non-adiabatic electron-phonon coupling would be important. The A_g (O23;Z)-mode thus seems to be by far the most interesting mode in O₇. These features are directly related to the layered structure of the HTSC compounds considered here. The O4-axial-breathing modes show significant renormalizations too, and are characterized by plane-chain charge transfer. Moreover, besides the O23- and O4-modes, the yttrium modes appear to be important too. In addition to the phonon-dispersion curves, we present values for the CF amplitudes and screened site-potential changes at the copper-and oxygen ions. Finally, we give transverse effective charges and dielectric constants for the insulating phase (O₆) as calculated within our formalism.     

Calculating the mass numbers of cluster nuclides on the basis of the asymptotic model

The most probable mass numbers A _n of a wide range of cluster nuclides, including transfermium elements, are calculated using the asymptotic model of cluster formation in nuclear matter. The A _n values corresponding to various processes of approach to equilibrium, such as cluster radioactivity, spontaneous fission, and formation of superheavy nuclides in r-processes, are obtained.     

Angular distributions of prompt γ-rays in the binary and the light charged particle accompanied fission modes of252Cf

Double-differential emission probabilitiesW _γ(Θ _{γ, LF} E _γ) in angleΘ _{γ, LF} and energyE _γ for promptγ-rays have been measured in the spontaneous fission of²⁵²Cf. The detector system allowed theγ-deexcitation in both the binary and the light charged particle accompanied fission modes to be studied under equal conditions. Previous results for the binary fission mode have been confirmed. For the first time anisotropicγ-angular distributions were proved for the light charged particle accompanied fission mode. Theγ-anisotropies are rather similar for both fission modes but the shapes of the angular distributions differ considerably. Theγ-deexcitation of the fission fragments in the yrast region was described on the basis of the VMI model whereas reasonable assumptions were made for statisticalγ-emission. A simulation procedure starts from this conception and it was possible to reproduceγ-ray spectra and the correspondingγ-angular distributions. The observed energy-dependent shift of the maximum in the light charged particle accompanied fission mode may be understood as an influence of the equatorial alpha particles on the alignment of angular momentum produced in bending modes.     

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.     

Rate of excited-nucleus fission within a multidimensional stochastic approach

A stochastic approach to describing the dynamics of the nuclear-fission process is applied to study the effect of the number of dimensions on the fission rate within the dynamical model used. The time dependence of the fission rate is calculated on the basis of a multidimensional Langevin equation without taking into account particle evaporation. The one-, two-, and three-dimensional cases are considered for the example of the “c, h, α” parametrization of nuclear-surface shapes. The calculations are performed for a large number of compound nuclei whose parameter Z ²/A falls within the range 20 ≤ Z ²/A ≤ 40. The stationary level of the fission rate is found to increase considerably upon going over from the one- to the three-dimensional case. This increase is especially pronounced for light fissile nuclei in the vicinity of the Businaro-Gallone point. Also, the stationary fission-rate level obtained from our dynamical simulation is compared with its counterpart calculated by the Kramers formula generalized to the multidimensional case.     

Fission decay properties of ultra neutron-rich uranium isotopes

The fission decay of highly neutron-rich uranium isotopes is investigated which shows interesting new features in the barrier properties and neutron emission characteristics in the fission process. ²³³U and ²³⁵U are the nuclei in the actinide region in the beta stability valley which are thermally fissile and have been mainly used in reactors for power generation. The possibility of occurrence of thermally fissile members in the chain of neutron-rich uranium isotopes is examined here. The neutron number N = 162 or 164 has been predicted to be magic in numerous theoretical studies carried out over the years. The series of uranium isotopes around it with N = 154–172 are identified to be thermally fissile on the basis of the fission barrier and neutron separation energy systematics; a manifestation of the close shell nature of N = 162 (or 164). We consider here the thermal neutron fission of a typical representative ²⁴⁹U nucleus in the highly neutron-rich region. Semiempirical study of fission barrier height and width shows that ²⁵⁰U nucleus is stable against spontaneous fission due to increase in barrier width arising out of excess neutrons. On the basis of the calculation of the probability of fragment mass yields and the microscopic study in relativistic mean field theory, this nucleus is shown to undergo exotic decay mode of thermal neutron fission (multi-fragmentation fission) whereby a number of prompt scission neutrons are expected to be simultaneously released along with the two heavy fission fragments. Such properties will have important implications in stellar evolution involving r-process nucleosynthesis.      

Exact solution of two-species ballistic annihilation with general pair-reaction probability

The reaction processA + B → ∅ is modeled for ballistic reactants on an infinite line with particle velocitiesυ _A =c andυ _B = -c and initially segregated conditions, i.e., allA particles to the left and allB particles to the right of the origin. Previous models of ballistic annihilation have particles that always react on contact, i.e., pair-reaction probabilityp = 1. The evolutions of such systems are wholly determined by the initial distributions of particles and therefore do not have a stochastic dynamics. However, in this paper the generalization is made to p< 1, allowing particles to pass through each other without necessarily reacting. In this way, theA andB particle domains overlap to form a fluctuating, finitesized reaction zone where the product ∅ is created. Fluctuations are also included in the currents ofA andB particles entering the overlap region, thereby inducing a stochastic motion of the reaction zone as a whole. These two types of fluctuations, in the reactions and particle currents, are characterised by theintrinsic reaction rate, seen in a single system, and theextrinsic reaction rate, seen in an average over many systems. The intrinsic and extrinsic behaviors are examined and compared to the case of isotropically diffusing reactants     

Exciton and phonon spectra of acoustooptic Tl3AsS3 crystals

The λ-modulated exciton reflection spectra of Tl₃AsS₃ crystals are investigated at 8 and 77 K, in which the ground (n=1) and excited (n=2, 3) exciton states are revealed. Taking into account the spatial dispersion, the shapes of λ-modulated reflection spectra of the n=1 line are calculated and the basic parameters of excitons and bands are determined (the translational and reduced masses of excitons and the effective masses of electrons and light and heavy holes). The one-phonon reflection spectra are studied in the region from 50 to 500 cm^?1 in polarizations E ∥ c and E ⊥ c. The shapes of one-phonon reflection spectra are calculated and the parameters of vibrational modes E and A ₂ are determined.     

Even and odd amplitudes of distributions of third particles in nuclear fission

The principal values for the even and odd components of the amplitudes of the angular distributions of α particles emitted as the third particles in true low-energy ternary fission of nuclei are calculated within the quantum theory of fission using natural approximations for the dependence of the potential scattering phases of the α particle on its orbital momenta and experimental angular distributions, unperturbed by the fissioning nucleus rotation, of these third α particles. Knowing the angular dependences of these components, we can estimate the angular dependences of the T-odd ROT and TRI asymmetry coefficients for the ternary fission of actinide nuclei induced by cold polarized neutrons.     

Fragment mass dependence of angular anisotropy in 15 MeV proton-induced fission of 244Pu

Angular distributions of fission fragments with mass number A=97-159 have been measured by the radiochemical recoil-catcher method in the proton-induced fission of ²⁴⁴Pu with the incident energy of 15 MeV. Angular anisotropies of extreme asymmetric mass division products even up to the fragment mass ratio of A _H /A _L ∼ 1.85 are found not any different from those of the typical asymmetric mass division products with A∼ 138, which indicates that no clear evidence is observed for the existence of an additional saddle point configuration in the extreme asymmetric mass division. The correlation between the saddle point state evaluated from the angular anisotropy and the mass division mode is discussed.     

Formation region of emitted α and heavier particles inside radioactive nuclei

We investigate the formation distance(R_0) from the center of the radioactive parent nucleus at which the emitted cluster is most probably formed. The calculations are performed microscopically starting with the solution to the time-independent Schr?dinger wave equation for the cluster-core system, using nuclear potentials based on the Skyrme-SLy4 nucleon-nucleon interactions and folding Coulomb potential, to determine the incident and transmitted wave functions of the system. Our results show that the emitted cluster is mostly formed in the pre-surface region of the nucleus, under the effect of Pauli blocking from the saturated core density. The deeper α-formation distance inside the nucleus allows less preformation probability and indicates a more stable nucleus for a longer half-life. Furthermore, the α-particle tends to be formed at a slightly deeper region inside the nuclei, with larger isospin asymmetry, and in the closed shell nuclei. Regarding the heavy clusters, we observed that the formation distance of the emitted clusters heavier than α-particle increased via increasing the isospin asymmetry of the formed cluster rather than by increasing its mass number. The partial half-life of a certain cluster-decay mode increased with increase of either the mass number or the isospin asymmetry of the emitted cluster.     

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.