The thermal-neutron-induced alpha-accompanied fission of235U investigation of the low energy part of the alpha spectrum

The energy spectrum of the α-particles emitted in the thermal-neutron induced fission of²³⁵U was measured from 11.5 MeV down to 2 MeV using the parabola mass spectrometer Lohengrin at the I.L.L. high flux reactor. This low energy part of the energy spectrum presents a smooth connection with the energy spectra which have been recently reported above 7 MeV. The overall energy spectrum, which is known to be quasi-gaussian above 12 MeV, is slightly asymmetric at low energy, where the observed particles are 6% more than expected from a gaussian shape. As a consequence, all the values reported for²³⁵U for the rate of α-accompanied fission compared to binary fission have to be multiplied by 1.06. This asymmetry is about 2 times less important than the one reported for²⁵²Cf. No evidence was seen for any intense low energy component as reported before. The possible reasons for the existence of this asymmetry are discussed.     

Systematics on fission fragment mass distribution of neutron induced 235U fission

Based on the neutron induced fission fragment mass distribution data up to     

Cold fragmentation in thermal-neutron-induced fission of 233U and 235U

The mass spectrometer Lohengrin of the Institut Laue-Langevin in Grenoble was used to measure fission-fragment mass yields in the mass range 80 ≤ A ≤ 107 for light-fission-fragment kinetic energies up to about 115 MeV for the reactions ^233,235U(n_th, f). The kinetic energies corresponding to a common fixed yield level for each isobar reflect the influence of the proton pairing energy, but not of the neutron pairing energy. By using calculated Q-values for the different mass splits, mass distributions at fixed total excitation energy are deduced from the data. At a fixed total excitation energy of about 7 MeV, the yield increases from very asymmetric mass splits (A_L ≈ 80) to more symmetric mass splits (A_L ≈ 105) by more than two orders of magnitude. This strong dependence on the mass split seems to be correlated with the decreasing surface-to-surface distance of the unaccelerated fission fragments in this range of mass splits, as calculated under the assumption that the total Q-value is represented by the mutual Coulomb repulsion of the two fragments. The influence of the fission-fragment ground-state deformations on the yield in cold fragmentation could not be detected unambiguously.     

Systematics on fission fragment mass distribution of neutron induced 235U fission

Based on the neutron induced fission fragment mass distribution data up to neutron energy 20 MeV measured with the double kinetic energy method (KEM) and the radio active method (RAM), the systematics of fission fragment mass distribution was investigated by using 5 Gaussian model and the systematics parameters were obtained by fitting the experimental data. With the systematics, the yields of any mass A and at any energy in the region from 0 to 20 MeV of neutron energy can be calculated. The calculated results could well reproduce the experimental data measured with KEM, but show some systematical deviation from the data measured by RAM, which reflects some systematical deviations between the two kinds of measured data.The error of systematics yield was calculated in an exact error transformation way, including from the error of the experimental yield data to the error of the discrete parameters, then to the systematics parameters,and at last to the yield calculated with systematics.     

Reflection asymmetry of the fission transition nucleus 235U

An analysis of the energy variation of the fission cross section and fragment angular distributions for the ²³⁴U (n,f) reaction reveals that the nuclear is reflection assymetric at the inner barrier.     

Ranges of U235 fission fragments in natural elements

From a recent work by Aiello, Maracci and Rustichelli, dealing with transmission of U²³⁵ fission fragments in solid media, it appeared that the Lindhard, Scharff and Schiøtt theory is able to predict in a satisfactory way the relative stopping powers of different elements for the U²³⁵ fission fragments. On the basis of this work and using available absolute experimental data for average ranges in few elements, a complete set of average ranges of U²³⁵ fission fragments in all existing natural elements was derived. This set includes for each stopping element, ranges for the median light fission fragment, for the median heavy fission fragment and for the overall median fission fragment.     

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.     

Long-range alpha emission inP-wave neutron induced fission of235U

The yield and energy distribution of long-range alpha-particles (lra) emitted from neutron-induced fission of²³⁵U have been measured at neutron energies; thermal, 125±12, 155±11, 185±10, 210±9, 240±9, 365±50 and 480±45 keV. The long-range alpha-particles were detected in cellulose nitrate track detector foils. Results showed an increase of about 50% in the yield at neutron energies in the region 150 keV≤E _n≤220 keV as compared to that of thermal neutrons. A calculation has been carried out to extract thelra to binary fission ratio forp-wave neutron induced fission.     

Multi-modal analysis for low energy neutron-induced fission of 235U

Low energy neutron induced fission of 235U is studied in the framework of the multi-modal fission model. The fission fragment properties, such as the yields, the average total kinetic energy distribution and the average neutron separation energy, are investigated for incident neutron energies from thermal to 6.0 MeV. The multi-modal fission approach is also used to evaluate the prompt fission neutron multiplicity and spectra for the neutron-induced fission of 235U with an improved version of the Los Alamos model for incident neutrons below the （n, nf） threshold. The three most dominant fission modes are taken into account. The model parameters are determined on the basis of experimental data. The calculated results are in good agreement with the experimental data.     

The influence of pairing and nuclear structure on the thermal-neutron-induced fission of235U

The mass separated fission product beam provided by the mass separator “Lohengrin” has been used to determine the nuclear charge distribution for the thermal-neutron-induced fission of²³⁵U for all light fission products in the region 80≦A≦107. The measurements were performed at the most probable kinetic energy of the fission products. By using the known fission product mass yields, the independent yields for a total number of 100 nuclides were obtained under the condition of the most probable kinetic energy. The proton pairing effect modulates the average nuclear charge of the fission fragments and the isobaric charge distribution widths in a regular fashion. The probabilities of breaking a pair and of forming fragments with an energetically unfavourable neutron-to-proton ratio are found to compete with each other. Both probabilities depend on the mass split and reach their maximum values in the region of the most probable masses. The odd-even-proton effect is found to vary smoothly between 16% for the most abundant mass splits and 40% for the rare mass splits. The odd-even-neutron effect exhibits maxima nearN=50 andN=60, where it reaches 16%. These maxima and the extremely low Tcyield (0.13±0.05%) are discussed with regard to fragment shell effects.     

Independent fission yields of short-lived Br and I isotopes in thermal neutron fission of235U

Independent fission yields of^88–91Br and^138–141I produced in thermal neutron fission of²³⁵U were determined at the SOLIS on-line isotope separator. The measurements were made for the first time using a negative surface ionization integrated target-ion source.     

Division of nuclear charge in the thermal neutron fission of U235

The mean primary nuclear charges of fragments from thermal neutron fission of U²³⁵ as a function of initial mass in the range 88–105 have been determined from theK-ray energy spectra of the light fragments.K- rays were registered with an argon-methane filled proportional counter in coincidence with the pulses from a pair of semiconductor detectors for complementary fission fragments. The deviation of the mean primary charge of the fragments from the “unchanged charge density” value as compared to the density of the parent nucleus U²³⁶ was found to be 0.54±0.14 charge units independent of mass in the range 88–105. No closed shell effect on the mean primary charge was found. Within about 10^?9 sec after fission aK-X ray yield of 0.057±0.012 per fission in the light fragment group was measured. The yields are nearly independant of mass in the range 88–95 corresponding to a value of 0.04 per fragment and increase up to 0.09 in the mass range 95–104, the relative accuracy being 3 to 4%.     

Nuclear charge distribution of mass-separated isobars from thermal-neutron-induced fission of 235U

The nuclear charge distribution of fission products with mass numbers A = 90, 91, 94, 99, 100, 101 and 104 provided by the mass separator “Lohengrin” was measured. Adjacent elements in the group of the light fission products could be separated by their different energy loss in a carbon absorber. The Z-yields were found to be strongly dependent on the kinetic energy of the fission products. The widths of the nuclear charge distributions are very small, in general, and strongly dependent on A as well as on the kinetic energy. The influence of the neutron evaporation and odd-even effects are clearly detected. An asymmetric nuclear charge distribution was found for A = 104 indicating the suppression of fission fragments with Z = 43. The average nuclear charges of the fission products at their average kinetic energy are in good agreement with the results from measurements of the number of β-decays and K X-ray measurements. The average nuclear charge of the isobar A = 132 was measured at its average kinetic energy with a calibrated secondary electron detector to be Z = 51.14 ± 0.15 which is in very good agreement with the radiochemical results. Thus previous physical measurements indicating a large independent yield for the doubly magic nucleus ¹³²Sn could not be confirmed.     

Prescission neutrons in the fission of 235U and 252Cf nuclei

Experimental data obtained previously for the energy-angular distribution of neutrons originating from the fission of ²⁵²Cf (spontaneous fission) and ²³⁵U (thermal-neutron-induced fission) nuclei are analyzed, the angle being measured with respect to the direction of fission-fragment motion. A regularity common to all independent experiments is revealed: at an angle of about 90°, there exists an excess of neutrons (30% for ²⁵²Cf and 60% for ²³⁵U) that does not admit explanation within the model of neutron emission from fully accelerated fragments. Two possible explanations of this experimental fact—neutron emission during the acceleration process and the existence of an additional source of neutrons (predominantly, prescission neutrons)—are considered. It is shown that the latter conjecture describes the observed features for both nuclei more adequately. The total yield of prescission neutrons and their energy and angular distributions are determined.     

Experimental study of ternary fission of U235 with thermal and resonance neutrons

The alpha particle spectra from ternary fission of U²³⁵ have been investigated in the thermal and the resonance neutron energy regions. The resonance neutrons have been obtained by passing the reactor neutron flux through a boron filter. A silicon surface barrier detector telescope technique for alpha particle detection has been used. In the resonance neutron energy region the ratio _f / _f has been found to be 1·02 ± 0·2 times the value of _f / _f in the thermal region. The non-gaussian tail of the LRA energy distribution has been observed.The authors are indebted to Dr. I.Wilhelm, Mrs. M.Pospíilová, Mr. J.vanda for their kindly help in the experimental data handling and to Mr. V.Kvítek for his assistance during the experiment.     

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.     

Multi-modal analysis for low energy neutron-induced fission of ~(235)U

Low energy neutron induced fission of ~(235)U is studied in the framework of the multi-modal fission model. The fission fragment properties, such as the yields, the average total kinetic energy distribution and the average neutron separation energy, are investigated for incident neutron energies from thermal to 6.0 MeV. The multi-modal fission approach is also used to evaluate the prompt fission neutron multiplicity and spectra for the neutron-induced fission of ~(235)U with an improved version of the Los Alamos model for incident neutrons below the (n, nf) threshold. The three most dominant fission modes are taken into account. The model parameters are determined on the basis of experimental data. The calculated results are in good agreement with the experimental data.     

Multi-modal analysis for low energy neutron-induced fission of ~(235)U

Low energy neutron induced fission of 235U is studied in the framework of the multi-modal fission model. The fission fragment properties, such as the yields, the average total kinetic energy distribution and the average neutron separation energy, are investigated for incident neutron energies from thermal to 6.0 MeV. The multi-modal fission approach is also used to evaluate the prompt fission neutron multiplicity and spectra for the neutron-induced fission of 235U with an improved version of the Los Alamos ...