Investigation of polar emission in 252Cf and 235U + nth fission

The energy distributions and relative intensities of protons, deuterons, tritons and α-particles emitted along the fission axis during spontaneous fission of ²⁵²Cf were measured simultaneously with both fission fragment energies. The absolute intensity of particles, the mass distribution of fragments, the total kinetic energy and total excitation energy of both fragments were subsequently deduced from the experimental data. Statistical model calculations based on a hypothesis that the polar particles are evaporated from fission fragments have been performed for ²⁵²Cf and ²³⁶U fission. Although some experimental results agree remarkably well with the evaporation hypothesis, the considered model cannot describe many features of the polar emission phenomenon.     

Investigation of the 208Pb(18O, f) fission reaction: Mass-energy distributions of fission fragments and their correlation with the gamma-ray multiplicity

The mass-energy distributions of fragments originating from the fission of the compound nucleus ²²⁶Th and their correlations with the multiplicity of gamma rays emitted from these fragments are measured and analyzed in ¹⁸O + ²⁰⁸Pb interaction induced by projectile oxygen ions of energy in the range E _lab = 78–198.5 MeV. Manifestations of an asymmetric fission mode, which is damped exponentially with increasing E _lab, are demonstrated. Theoretical calculations of fission valleys reveal that only two independent valleys, symmetric and asymmetric, exist in the vicinity of the scission point. The dependence of the multiplicity of gamma rays emitted from both fission fragments on their mass, M_γ(M), has a complicated structure and is highly sensitive to shell effects in both primary and final fragments. A two-component analysis of the dependence M_γ(M) shows that the asymmetric mode survives in fission only at low partial-wave orbital angular momenta of compound nuclei. It is found that, for all E _lab, the gamma-ray multiplicity M_γ as a function of the total kinetic energy (TKE) of fragments, M_γ(TKE), decreases linearly with increasing TKE. An analysis of the energy balance in the fission process at the laboratory energy of E _lab = 78 MeV revealed the region of cold fission of fragments whose total kinetic energy is TKE ～Q _max.     

The study of prompt and delayed muon induced fission

Mass yield and total kinetic energy release (TKE) distributions of fragments from prompt and delayed muon induced fission, separately, have been measured for the isotopes²³⁵U,²³⁸U,²³⁷Np and²⁴²Pu. The distributions from prompt muon induced fission are compared with the corresponding distributions from hadronic reactions and from spontaneous fission (s.f.). The distributions from the delayed muonic fission processes are compared to the distributions for neutron and proton-induced fission. No mass distributions measured in the prompt muonic fission process show any signature, which can be attributed to the presence of the muon. Differences observed between the TKE distributions of prompt muon induced and hadron induced fission can be explained by the screening effect of the negative charge of the muon bound in the orbit of one of the fission fragments. The observed yield of symmetric muon induced fission was found to be defined merely by the value of the excitation energy.     

Angular distributions of light charged particles from 252Cf fission in the ranges 0–46° and 134–180°

Alpha particles, tritons, deuterons and protons accompanying ²⁵²Cf fission were registered in coincidence with both fission fragments by means of a system containing two-dimensional position-sensitive silicon detectors. Angular distributions, kinetic energy spectra of light charged particles as well as mass distributions of fission fragments in coincidence with light charged particles were measured. The experimental results are compared with some theoretical models.     

Fission of 238U following inelastic α-particle scattering at bombarding energy Eα = 50 MeV

Mass and energy distributions of ²³⁸U fragments following fission induced by inelastic scattering of α-particles were obtained in a triple coincidence experiment. The total kinetic energy (TKE) of the fragments is observed to decrease with excitation energy.     

Nuclear charge distribution of heavy fission fragments from thermal-neutron-induced fission of235U

Fragments from thermal-neutron induced fission of²³⁵U have been separated by a mass spectrometer with respect to their masses and kinetic energies within 1 μsec. The separation principles are briefly described. For masses 130 to 139 amu the charge distributions have been determined by counting the number of beta tracks emitted from the individual mass selected fission fragments in a nuclear photographic emulsion. In another method, the average number of beta particles for each fragment mass is determined by use of a 4π-proportional counter. The mean nuclear charge as a function of mass is compared with other experimental results and theoretical curves. Contradictory to the radiochemical results, this experiment yields a dip in the mean nuclear charge versus mass curve at mass 132 amu corresponding to the doubly magic nucleus (N=82,Z=50)¹³²Sn. Recent theoretical calculations of Nörenberg are in agreement with this finding.     

Investigation of the maximum accessible kinetic energy of fragments in the neutron-induced fission of 238U nuclei

The masses, total kinetic energies (TKE), and emission angles of fragments originating from the fission of ²³⁸U nuclei that was induced by 5- and 6.5-MeV neutrons were measured by using digital methods for processing signals. A detailed analysis of the shape of digital signals made it possible to reduce substantially the contribution of fragments whose TKE values were distorted because of a superimposition of signals from recoil protons and from alpha particles produced in the spontaneous decay of uranium. The total statistics exceeded two million events for either neutron energy, and this permitted performing a detailed analysis of fission-fragment yields in the region of the highest attainable TKE values. An analysis of fragment yields made it possible to draw specific conclusions on the structure of the potential surface of fissile nuclei.     

Prompt gamma ray multiplicity distributions in spontaneous fission of252Cf

The shape parameters of the multiplicity distribution of prompt gamma rays emitted in spontaneous fission of²⁵²Cf were obtained using the multiple coincidence technique. The multiplicity distribution is well represented by a Gaussian distribution. Assuming the average number of prompt gamma rays emitted per fission to be 10.3, the standard deviation of the multiplicity distribution was estimated to be 4.2±0.4. The variation of the standard deviation of the multiplicity distribution has also been obtained as a function of kinetic energy of one of the fragments and was found to exhibit a strong zigzag dependence on the single fragment kinetic energy. The results have been discussed on the basis of the emission mechanism of prompt gamma rays in fission.     

Coulomb effects in low energy fission

The structures in the total kinetic energy (TKE) distributions in cold fission of²³⁴U and²³⁶U are interpreted in terms of the Coulomb interaction energy (C) between fragments at the scission point. The maximal value ofC, C _max, corresponding to the most compact scission configuration, is calculated for several mass fragmentations. It is shown that withQ being constant,C _max increases if one increases the charge asymmetry for a given primary fragmentation. This condition produces oscillations with a period of approximately 5 amu ofC _max as a function of the light fragment mass which are correlated with the observed oscillations of the maximal value of TKE. Moreover, the enhancement of the yields of the more asymmetric charge fragmentation for a given fragmentation is explained.     

Studies of mass and energy correlations in thermal neutron fission of U-235 accompanied by long range alpha particles

Several characteristics of fission accompanied by long range alpha particles (LRA) have been studied in the thermal neutron induced fission of²³⁵U. The kinetic energies of fission fragments and the LRA were measured with a back-to-back ionization chamber and semiconductor detectors respectively. The kinetic energies of the two fragments and the LRA in LRA fission, along with the energies of pair fragments in the normal binary fissions, were recorded event by event on a magnetic tape by means of a four-parameter data acquisition system. The data were analysed to study the dependence of different quantities in LRA fission on the fragment mass ratio, LRA energy and the total kinetic energy of the fission fragments. It is seen that the most probable energy of LRA increases significantly for near symmetric mass divisions. The total kinetic energy for all mass ratios in LRA fission is found to be (2.6±0.7) MeV larger than that in binary fission. The difference in the total kinetic energies in LRA and binary fissions is seen to be dependent on mass ratio. This result may suggest that the scission configuration in LRA fission is different for different mass ratios. Correlations between the fission fragment and LRA energies have been studied for several mass ratios. It is seen that the most probable fragment kinetic energyĒ _k varies nearly linearly with the LRA energyE _a for various mass divisions but the variation of the most probable LRA energyĒ _a with fragment kinetic energyE _k is found to deviate from linearity for several mass ratios. From a least square fit to the variation ofĒ _k withE _a it is found that the slope (dĒ _k/dE_a) increases with the increase in mass ratio. The present results are discussed to arrive at a better understanding of the scission configuration in the fission accompanied by LRA emission.     

Total kinetic energies and mass yield distributions of Cf fission fragments

The variation in the mass yield distribution of the spontaneous fission of ²⁵²Cf as a function of the total kinetic energy (TKE) of the two fragments is investigated. With increasing TKE the peaks of the mass yield distributions become narrower.     

On the kinetic energy of fission fragments with even and odd numbers of protons

In order to compare the distributions of the prompt energy release in the fission of a doubly even nucleus into even-Z and odd-Z fragments, the spectra of fragment kinetic energy and the coincident K X-rays were measured in a two-parameter mode with high statistical accuracy for the case of ²⁵²Cf spontaneous fission. By means of computer spectrum decomposition techniques data were obtained for average kinetic energies of fragments with even and odd atomic number. The comparison did not show any noticeable correlation of the mean fragment kinetic energy with oddness or evenness of the fragments.     

The shell structure and the asymmetry of nuclear fission for 140Pu in a statistical model

The dependence on excitation energy of the mass distribution of the fragments arising from the fission of ²⁴⁰Pu is studied in a statistical model. The level densities needed are calculated on the basis of the single-particle energies obtained from a deformed Woods-Saxon potential. First we investigate when and how the shell effects disappear in ²⁴⁰Pu with increasing excitation energy. Using the transition state method we then calculate some characteristic properties of the fragment mass distributions and compare the results with the experimental observations. Reasonable agreement is obtained.     

Asymmetric mass distribution from the fusion-fission reaction40Ar+243Am

The mass distributions and total c.m. kinetic energies of fission fragments formed in the reaction⁴⁰Ar+²⁴³Am at bombarding energies of 214, 222, 240 and 300 MeV have been measured using the angular correlation method. Angular distributions and anisotropy for 222 and 300 MeV have also been obtained. A symmetric mass distribution corresponding to the decay of a highly excited compound nucleus was obtained at 300 MeV bombarding energy. However, with decreasing bombarding energy the fission fragment mass distribution becomes asymmetric, the most probable heavy fragment mass being about 200–210 amu.     

Emission properties of fission fragments and their isomeric ratios

The properties of neutron emission from fragments formed in the spontaneous fission of ²⁵²Cf and in the thermal-neutron-induced fission of ²³⁵U are analyzed on the basis of the statistical model of nuclear reactions. Upon extracting the mean excitation energies of fission fragments from experimental data on the mean multiplicities of neutrons, the observables of neutron emission can be described over wide ranges of total kinetic energies and masses. The observed values of mean fragment spins are also reproduced. A method for calculating the isomeric ratios of the independent yields of fission fragments that is based on the cascade-evaporation model of excited-nucleus decay is employed to describe experimental data on ²³⁵U fission induced by thermal neutrons and on ²³⁸U fission induced by alpha particles. The effect exerted on the isomeric ratios for fission fragments by two different assumptions on the spin distributions of primary-fragment populations—the assumption of the distribution associated with rotational degrees of freedom and the assumption of the distribution associated with the internal degrees of freedom of fully accelerated fragments—is investigated.     

Ternary fission involving4He emission in the16O (144 MeV)+232Th and12C (108 MeV)+197Au reactions

The results of coincidence measurements of⁴He emission with fission fragments in reactions of¹²C(108 MeV) ions with a¹⁹⁷Au target and of¹⁶O(144 MeV) ions with a²³²Th target are presented. On the basis of a Monte Carlo kinematic simulation of nuclear reactions the experimental energy spectra and velocity distributions of alpha particles have been analyzed. A conclusion has been drawn that the main source of⁴ He emission is evaporation from the fissioning compound nucleus. Substantial part of alpha particles was emitted from fully accelerated fission fragments. Some of⁴He nuclei with an average energy of about 16 MeV (in the CM system) emitted mainly perpendicular to the fission axis were identified as being similar long-range alpha particles produced in ternary fission of heavy nuclei at a low excitation energy. The emission multiplicities of these particles are considerably higher than those observed at a low excitation energy. The experimental results are compared with the statistical model predictions.     

Fragment dependence of high energy γ-ray emission in the spontaneous fission of 252Cf

The high energy γ-ray emission accompanying the spontaneous fission of ²⁵²Cf has been measured in coincidence with individual fission fragments selected by discrete γ-ray transitions. The enhancement of the γ-ray emission probability in the energy range E_γ= 3–8 MeV has been observed for the fission fragments in the region of nearly symmetric mass splitting, confirming results reported in previous investigations. The γ-γ coincidence technique employed in the present work clearly demonstrate that the major contribution to this enhancement is caused by the fission channels where one fragment is near to the N= 82 or Z= 50 shell closures. The high energy γ-ray emission probability does not show any significant dependence on the number of neutrons emitted in the fission process, supporting the hypothesis that high energy γ-rays are mainly emitted from the fragments after the neutron evaporation. Received: 22 December 1998     

Emission order of light particles and light fragments from hot nuclei followed by binary fission

Emission orders of light charged particles and Li fragments from highly excited fissioning nuclei in the reaction of ⁴⁰Ar+¹⁹⁷Au at E _beam /A=25 MeV have been studied by measuring difference velocity distributions of two correlated particles at small relative angles in coincidence with two fission fragments. By comparing the data with three-body trajectory calculations, we found that high velocity deuterons are emitted prior to high velocity Li fragments but low velocity deuterons are emitted after low velocity Li fragments. On the other hand, no preferential emission was observed among light particles, such as protons and deuterons. Furthermore, the emission orders are found to depend only weakly on the mass asymmetry of fission fragments. Received: 3 June 1997 / Revised version: 23 July 1997     

Fragments' mass and energy characteristics in the spontaneous fission of 236Pu, 238Pu, 240Pu, 242Pu,and 244Pu

The results of a systematic study of the mass and energy of fission fragments emitted in the spontaneous fission of ^{236,238,240,242,244}Pu are reported. A comparison of the fragments' mass and energy distributions demonstrates the occurrence of different fission modes with varying relative probability. These results are discussed in terms of the random neck rupture model as well as in terms of the scission point model, showing the influence of the neutron number of the fissioning system. Finally an improved method of analysis allows the investigation of the cold fission region.     

Fission-mode calculations for 239U,a revision of the multi-modal random neck-rupture model

In the course of an experimental study of the fragment characteristics after neutron-induced fission of ²³⁸U with incident neutron energies between 1.2 and 5.8 MeV fission-mode calculations in the frame of the multi-modal random neck-rupture model have been performed. During these calculations some technical parts of the model have been revised. The identification of fission modes is now based on unequivocal and reproducible criteria. The Rayleigh criterion has consequently been applied to determine each possible scission configuration. The most remarkable new results are that all physically relevant fission modes branch off in the second potential minimum exhibiting different outer barriers, and that the total kinetic energy distribution of the fission fragments is a direct consequence of the Rayleigh criterion. The fragment characteristics as the mean mass, the mean total kinetic energy and the corresponding width obtained from the fission-mode calculations compare reasonably well with the experimental findings.For the first time the weighted fission cross sections through each particular fission mode have been analyzed simultaneously using a Hill-Wheeler type expression for the transmission through a double-humped fission barrier. The results support the picture of individual outer barriers with slightly different penetrabilities and a slightly lower inner barrier.