The study of prompt and delayed muon induced fission

The mean life times of negative muons bound to actinide nuclei have been measured by detecting the time difference between a stopped muon and the arrival of fragments from delayed fission after muon capture. The deduced capture ratesΛ _c are 1.392(4)·10⁷/s for²³⁷Np, 1.290(7)·10⁷/s for²⁴²Pu and 1.240(7)·10⁷/s for²⁴⁴Pu. The results are compared with published data for the fission and the neutron decay channels and for the electron decay of the bound muon. Including a former measurement ofΛ _c for²³⁹Pu, an isotopic dependence of the muon capture rates in the Pu isotopes is clearly observed.     

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.     

Absence of delayed fission in theβ −-decay of 2.3 min238Pa

We have searched for beta-delayed fission in the decay of 2.3 min²³⁸Pa produced in the²³⁸U(n,p) reaction with 14.7 MeV neutrons. Through microprocessor-controlled chemical separations of protactinium about 10⁹ atoms of²³⁸Pa were isolated and exposed to fission track detectors. From the absence of fission tracks an upper limit for the betadelayed fission probability of²³⁸Pa, i.e.P _βf <2.6 10^?8, is obtained at 95% confidence level. This rules out positive evidence for this decay mode of²³⁸Pa reported elsewhere. Simple theoretical estimates ofP _βf range from 10^?7 to 10^?9.     

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.     

Hybrid model analysis of intermediate energy (20<E γ<140 MeV) photonuclear reactions on232Th and235,238U

The hybrid model code ALICE/LIVERMORE 82 (with fission option) has been used in the study of photonuclear reactions on²³²Th and^235,238U (20<E _γ<140 MeV). The total fission probabilitiesP _f were calculated. A model was established for the decay of the fission fragments. This model, together with the code ALICE, allowed the calculation of the cross sectionsσ ⁽ⁱ⁾ for emission of at leasti neutrons, and of the average multiplicity¯v and widthW of the neutron distribution for²³⁸U. The theoretical results forP _f ,σ ⁽ⁱ⁾ ,¯v andW show very good agreement with existing experimental data. It is shown that a comparison of the calculations with the available experimental data does not allow for a discrimination between the various photon absorption mechanisms proposed (single-particle absorption vs. quasi-deuteron mechanism).     

Coherent bremsstrahlung and GDR width from Cf cold fission

The energy spectrum of the high energy γ-rays in coincidence with the prompt γ-rays has been measured for the spontaneous fission of ²⁵²Cf. The nucleus–nucleus coherent bremsstrahlung of the accelerating fission fragments is observed and the result has been substantiated with a theoretical calculation based on the Coulomb acceleration model. The width of the giant dipole resonance (GDR) decay from the excited fission fragments has been extracted for the first time and compared with the thermal shape fluctuation model (TSFM) in the liquid drop formalism. The extracted GDR width is significantly smaller than the predictions of TSFM.     

The binary decay of U,Th, Pb and Au induced by 380 MeVK − mesons

The binary decay of U, Th, Pb and Au induced by 380 MeVK ^? mesons has been studied by means of a polycarbonate plastic track detector makrofol. The range distributions of the produced fragments are discussed and some conclusions are derived on the ratio of the processes of fission and fragmentation. Also calculated mass and energy distributions of the fragments produced by the uranium fission are presented.     

Fusion-fission of heavy and superheavy nuclei

The process of fusion-fission of heavy and superheavy nuclei (SHE) with Z=82–122 formed in the reactions with ⁴⁸Ca and ⁵⁸Fe ions at energies near and below the Coulomb barrier has been studied. The experiments were carried out at the U-400 accelerator of the Flerov Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions (JINR) and at the XTU Tandem accelerator of the National Laboratory of Legnaro (LNL) using the time-of-flight spectrometer of fission fragments CORSET and the neutron multidetector DEMON. As a result of the experiments, mass and energy distributions (MED) of fission fragments; fission, quasifission, and evaporation residue cross sections; and multiplicities of neutrons and γ-quanta and their dependences on the mechanism of formation and decay of compound systems have been studied.     

Cold fission as heavy ion emission

The last version of the analytical superasymmetric fission model is applied to study cold fission processes. Strong shell effects are present either in one or both fission fragments. A smooth behaviour is observed when the proton or the neutron numbers are changed by four units. IncreasingZ andN, in the transuranium region, a sharp transition from asymmetry with a large peak-to-valley ratio to symmetry atZ=100 and/orN=164 is obtained. The transition toward asymmetry at higherZ andN is much smoother. The most probable cold fission light fragments from²³⁴U,²³⁶U,²³⁹Np and²⁴⁰Pu are¹⁰⁰Zr,¹⁰⁴Mo,¹⁰⁶Mo and¹⁰⁶Mo, respectively, in good agreement with experimental data. The unified treatment of alpha decay, heavy ion radioactivities and cold fission is illustrated for²³⁴U — the first nucleus in which all three groups have been already observed.     

Fission process of superheavy nuclei

The process of fusion-fission of superheavy nuclei with Z=102?122 formed in the reactions with ²²Ne, ²⁶Mg, ⁴⁸Ca, ⁵⁸Fe and ⁸⁶Kr ions at energies near and below the Coulomb barrier has been studied. The experiments were carried out at the U-400 accelerator of the Flerov Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions (JINR) using a time-of-flight spectrometer of fission fragments CORSET and a neutron multi-detector DEMON. As a result of the experiments, mass and energy distributions of fission fragments, fission and quasi-fission cross sections, multiplicities of neutrons and gamma rays and their dependence on the mechanism of formation and decay of compound superheavy systems have been studied.     

Kinetic energy and angular distributions of instantaneous fission fragments in a classical model

The process of instantaneous fission in deep inelastic collisions is investigated in a classical model. Kinetic energies and angular distributions of the fragments are calculated for the proposed reaction Pb+U atE _cm ^inc =750 MeV; an experimental setup for the separation of the fragments originating from instantaneous fission from the fragments of thermal fission is explained. We also discuss fusion following instantaneous fission as a mechanism for the production of superheavy elements and arrive at rather promising estimates.     

Shell effects in fusion-fission of heavy and superheavy nuclei

The process of fusion-fission of heavy and superheavy nuclei (SHE) with Z=82?122 formed in the reactions with ⁴⁸Ca and ⁵⁸Fe ions at energies near and below the Coulomb barrier has been studied. The experiments were carried out at the U-400 accelerator of the Flerov Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions (JINR) and at the XTU Tandem accelerator of the National Laboratory of Legnaro (LNL) using the time-of-flight spectrometer of fission fragments CORSET and the neutron multi-detector DEMON. As a result of the experiments, mass and energy distributions (MED) of fission fragments, fission, quasi-fission and evaporation residues cross sections, multiplicities of neutrons and γ quanta and their dependence on the mechanism of formation and decay of compound systems have been studied.     

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.     

Hints of giant halo in Zr isotopes by resonant RMF+ACCC+BCS approach

In experiments for the synthesis of superheavy elements at the velocity filter SHIP, GSI, we observed fission events, which could not be attributed to decay chains of superheavy isotopes from fusion reactions. Usually, the observation of spontaneous fission is a crucial first step for the detection of decay chains. In order to avoid random correlations and misidentifications of superheavy isotopes, it is therefore essential to know the features and cross-sections of fission events not originating from decay chains of superheavy nuclei. The special properties of the velocity filter allowed us to identify and study the ??background?? fission events as decay products of heavy target-like nuclides populated in nucleon transfer reactions. Here, we will discuss the results obtained in collisions of ₂₀ ⁴⁸ Ca + ₉₆ ²⁴⁸ Cm, ₂₄ ⁵⁴ Cr + ₉₆ ²⁴⁸ Cm and ₂₈ ⁶⁴ Ni + ₉₂ ²³⁸ U, which were applied for the synthesis of elements Z = 116 and 120, respectively.     

Investigation of the reaction 208Pb(18O, f): Fragment spins and phenomenological analysis of the angular anisotropy of fission fragments

The average multiplicity of gamma rays emitted by fragments originating from the fission of ²²⁶Th nuclei formed via a complete fusion of ¹⁸O and ²⁰⁸Pb nuclei at laboratory energies of ¹⁸O projectile ions in the range E _lab = 78–198.5 MeV is measured and analyzed. The total spins of fission fragments are found and used in an empirical analysis of the energy dependence of the anisotropy of these fragments under the assumption that their angular distributions are formed in the vicinity of the scission point. The average temperature of compound nuclei at the scission point and their average angular momenta in the entrance channel are found for this analysis. Also, the moments of inertia are calculated for this purpose for the chain of fissile thorium nuclei at the scission point. All of these parameters are determined at the scission point by means of three-dimensional dynamical calculations based on Langevin equations. A strong alignment of fragment spins is assumed in analyzing the anisotropy in question. In that case, the energy dependence of the anisotropy of fission fragments is faithfully reproduced at energies in excess of the Coulomb barrier (E _c.m. ? E _B ≥ 30 MeV). It is assumed that, as the excitation energy and the angular momentum of a fissile nucleus are increased, the region where the angular distributions of fragments are formed is gradually shifted from the region of nuclear deformations in the vicinity of the saddle point to the region of nuclear deformations in the vicinity of the scission point, the total angular momentum of the nucleus undergoing fission being split into the orbital component, which is responsible for the anisotropy of fragments, and the spin component. This conclusion can be qualitatively explained on the basis of linear-response theory.     

Measurement of the fission moment of inertia of medium mass nuclides

Measurements have been made, by means of mica nuclear track detectors, of the distributions in tracklength and the angular distributions with respect to the beam direction for the fission fragments from the systems Ag, Te and Au plus 80-MeV alpha particles. Analysis of the tracklength distributions indicated that, in each case, full momentum transfer from the incident projectile characterized those interactions that led to fission. Angular-momentum dependent statistical model calculations for the decay of the respective compound nuclei then provided information on fission-evaporation competition in the de-excitation processes, and in particular the distribution in nuclear temperature and angular momentum at which the fission events took place. This information was then employed in the analysis of the measured fission fragment angular distributions, and to extractK ₀ ² values. From these, the moments of inertia of the fission saddle point shapes were calculated, and the results are in good agreement with theoretical estimates.     

Langevin fission dynamics of hot rotating nuclei: Systematic application to Z 2/A=34–42 heavy nuclei

A stochastic approach that treats fission dynamics on the basis of three-dimensional Langevin equations is used to calculate the mass-energy distributions of fragments originating from the fission of compound nuclei whose fissility parameter lies in the range Z ²/A=34–42. In these calculations, use was made of the liquid-drop model allowing for finite-range nuclear forces and the diffuseness of the nuclear surface in calculating the potential energy and a modified one-body mechanism of viscosity in describing dissipation. The emission of light prescission particles is taken into account on the basis of the statistical model. The calculations performed within three-dimensional Langevin dynamics reproduce well all parameters of the experimental mass-energy distributions of fission fragments and all parameters of the prefission-neutron multiplicity for various parameters of the compound nucleus. The inclusion of the third collective coordinate in the Langevin equations leads to a considerable increase (by up to 40–50%) in the variances of mass-energy distributions in relation to what was previously obtained from two-dimensional Langevin calculations. For the parameters of the mass-energy distributions of fission fragments and the parameters of the prefission-neutron multiplicity to be reproduced simultaneously, the reduction coefficient K _s must be diminished at least by a factor of 2(0.2≤K _s ≤0.5) in relation to that in the case of total one-body viscosity (K _s =1).     

Bestimmung der Triplett-Potentialdaten für das K2-Stoßmolekül

Short lived Ru isotopes produced in thermal fission of²³⁵U have been chemically separated from the other fission products. Successiveγ-ray spectra were taken by means of Ge(Li) detectors. The observedγ-lines have been assigned to the various Ru isotopes (A=107 to 110) or to their daughter elements on the basis of their half-lives, intensity ratios and known level properties. Partial decay schemes are discussed and relative fission yields are given.¹¹¹Ru has been identified (T ₁₂: 1.5±0.3 s).     

Fission and ternary cluster decay of hyper-deformed 56Ni

Coincidences between two heavy fragments have been measured from the fission of ⁵⁶Ni compound nuclei formed in the ³²S + ²⁴Mg reaction at E _lab( ^32S ) = 165.4 MeV. A unique experimental set-up consisting of two large-area position-sensitive (x, y) gas detector telescopes has been used allowing the complete determination of the observed fragments and their momentum vectors. In addition to binary fission events with subsequent particle evaporation, narrow out-of-plane correlations are observed for two fragments emitted in purely binary events and in events with a missing charge consisting of 2α - and 3α -particles (¹²C). These events are interpreted as ternary cluster decay from ⁵⁶Ni nuclei at high angular momenta through hyper-deformed shapes.