On the mechanism of the (n, 2n) reaction with 14MeV projectiles on127I and209Bi

The angular and spectral distributions of coincident neutrons from the reactions¹²⁷I(n, 2n)¹²⁶I and²⁰⁹Bi(n, 2n)²⁰⁸Bi have been measured with two time-of-flight detectors at the incident energy 14.1 MeV. Neutron emission has been studied for reaction anglesθ _lab between 10° and 150° (relative angles from 60° to 270°). Energy spectra, angular distributions and coincidence yields are compared with statistical model calculations including preequilibrium decay modes, and nuclear level density and spin cut off parameters are derived.     

Alpha induced reactions

A comprehensive model forα particle induced reactions, recently proposed by two of the authors, has been improved and utilised in the analysis of proton andα particle spectra, angular distributions, excitation functions, spectra of neutrons emitted in the decay of continuum states on nuclei with 50<A<230 atα energies varying from 50 to 160 MeV. A unique set of average parameters has been used in all the calculations. Most of them were the same utilised in previous analyses of nucleon andπ ^? induced reactions. The energy and mass dependence (which turns out to be quite weak) of the additional parameters which are needed to describe theα particle induced reactions has been determined. The comparison with experimental data shows that the model discussed allows one to reproduce successfully the cross sections ofα particle induced reactions with an accuracy comparable to the one already gained in the analysis of nucleon andπ ^? reactions with the Exciton Model.     

Unbound excited states in C

The neutron-rich carbon isotopes ^19,17C have been investigated via proton inelastic scattering on a liquid hydrogen target at 70 MeV/nucleon. The invariant mass method in inverse kinematics was employed to reconstruct the energy spectrum, in which fast neutrons and charged fragments were detected in coincidence using a neutron hodoscope and a dipole magnet system. A peak has been observed with an excitation energy of 1.46(10) MeV in ¹⁹C, while three peaks with energies of 2.20(3), 3.05(3), and 6.13(9) MeV have been observed in ¹⁷C. Deduced cross sections are compared with microscopic DWBA calculations based on p-sd   shell model wave functions and modern nucleon–nucleus optical potentials. Jπ$J^{\pi }$ assignments are made for the four observed states as well as the ground states of both nuclei.     

Decay of the compound nucleus179Au formed in the cold fusion reaction90Zr+89Y

For the compound nucleus¹⁷⁹Au formed at an excitation energy of 26 MeV in the fusion reaction⁹⁰Zr+⁸⁹Y, the energy spectra of promptly emitted protons,α particles andγ rays were measured in concidence with the evaporation residues. On the basis of the measured total decay energy, the 1p and 1α decay channels were separated from all other evaporation-residue channels. The energy spectra and absolute cross sections, together with previously measured excitation functions for various decay channels, are successfully described by statisticalmodel calculations with the Monte Carlo code CODEX.     

Transfer to the continuum of 14C via (18O, 16O) reaction

A study of the continuum of ¹⁴C populated by the ¹²C(¹⁸O, ¹⁶O)¹⁴C reaction at 84 MeV incident energy has been performed. The ejectiles have been momentum analyzed at forward angles by the MAGNEX magnetic spectrometer. The energy spectra were obtained up to about 20 MeV excitation energy. The scattering of two neutrons independently removed from the projectile as it passes the target nucleus has been described by means of an optical potential with a semi-classical approximation for the relative motion. The calculations describe a significant part of the continuum observed in the energy spectra. In particular, a resonance of the residual nucleus dominates the region near the two-neutron emission threshold.     

Neutron emission from the reaction 232Th(n, xn′f)

The energy distributions of neutrons accompanying the fission of ²³²Th are measured by the time-of-flight technique at the bombarding-neutron energies of E _n=14.6 and 17.7 MeV. The data obtained in this way are compared with the results of previous investigations. An excess of soft neutrons that was observed in the experimental spectra of neutrons from ²³⁸U fission at E _n=13.2, 14.7, 16.0, and 17.7 MeV in relation to the results of the calculations based on the model of two sources is also present in the spectra for ²³²Th. The discrepancy between the results of the calculations and experimental data disappears as soon as one assumes the presence of a third source that is related to neutron emission from nonaccelerated fragments.     

The compound nucleus reaction 12C(11B, 2α) 15N

Energy spectra and differential cross sections of nitrogen products formed in the reaction 28 MeV ¹¹B + ¹²C have been measured using a ΔE?E counter telescope. The energy spectra are smooth and therefore indicate that the nitrogen products were formed by a compound nucleus mechanism, via the formation and decay of the compound nucleus ²³Na. The experimental results are compared with statistical model calculations and good agreement is obtained. This result provides further evidence for the importance of the compound nucleus mechanism in heavy ion reactions with light nuclei and also gives added validity to the statistical model for light compound systems.     

The dependence of fission time-scales on fragment mass asymmetry in the 20Ne+165Ho reaction at 50A MeV

The pre-scission and post-scission multiplicities of alpha particles were determined in coincidence with fission fragments for four windows of exit channel mass asymmetry in the reaction ²⁰Ne+¹⁶⁵Ho at 50A MeV. The technique used employed a kinematic analysis of the energy spectra of alpha particles as a function of the emission angle with respect to the fission axis. Using a procedure of fitting the experimental energy spectra with those resulting from a Monte Carlo simulation program, the total multiplicity of alpha particles was separated into pre-scission and post-scission components. Using the pre-scission and post-scission multiplicities, neutron multiplicity measurements and other empirical observations, both the initial excitation energy and the excitation energy at scission of the compound nucleus were determined. The pre-scission times in the de-excitation of a highly excited ¹⁷⁸W compound nucleus with initial excition energy of 570 MeV were evaluated using statistical model calculations. Only a small decrease in scission time was derived for the most asymmetric events studied. The possible contribution of very damped deep inelastic processes is discussed.     

Competition between few nucleon emission andγ-ray deexcitation for the reaction systems65Cu+87Rb and40Ar+110Pd

Bothγ-ray and neutron emission have been studied for the reaction systems⁶⁵Cu(237MeV) +⁸⁷Rb→¹⁵²Dy^* and⁴⁰Ar(158MeV)+¹¹⁰Pd→¹⁵⁰Gd^*. By using a sum spectrometer in coincidence with neutron counters, Ge(Li) or Nal detectors, we have measured the totalγ-ray energy and the average totalγ-multiplicity distributions as well as the neutron spectra for various exit channels. These measurements provide strong evidence for thermal equilibrium in reactions involving a small number of emitted neutrons (i.e.⁸⁷Rb(⁶⁵Cu,n or 2n)) at rather high excitation energy (～54MeV). This statistical emission of only a few neutrons is controlled by very strong y-ray competition: theγ-entry line is found not to be parallel to the yrast line. Instead the energy gap is about 8MeV for J～27? and rises to at least 13MeV for J～36?. There are some indications that the main part of the energy from this gap is removed by statisticalγ-ray cascades. The main features of the experimental data for both entrance channels are well reproduced by statistical model calculations with proper attention to the yrast line position and an adjustement of the dipoleγ-ray normalization coefficient. It is conceivable that the y-ray enhancement that we introduce may be related to a lack of knowledge of the absolute level densities at high energy and spin, or possibly to the presence of new or additional degrees of freedom that may enter into the competition between neutron andγ-ray emission.     

The width of the giant dipole resonance built on excited states of Cu compound nuclei

Continuumγ- ray spectra from the decay of⁵⁹Cu formed at an excitation energy of 100 MeV and angular momenta up to 43? by means of the reaction 190 MeV³²S +²⁷Al have been measured and analyzed. The parameters of the Giant Dipole Resonance (GDR) have been extracted using the statistical model. The derived GDR width confirms the sizeable broadening of this resonance in⁵⁹Cu already reported in our earlier investigation at 77 MeV excitation energy (J_crit=38?). Estimates of the GDR width have been performed in the adiabatic approximation. Predicted values account qualitatively for the experimental data of⁵⁹Cu as well as of the heavier isotope⁶³Cu, in which the broadening was not seen up to 77MeV excitation (J_crit=35?). The present analysis demonstrates the strong sensitivity of the GDR to spin effects in this mass region.     

Recoil properties of spallation products from bombardment of Z = 13–29 targets with 150,300 and 600 MeV protons

A semi-empirical relation developed using the classical model of high-energy nuclear reactions has been applied to spallation data obtained from thick-target — thick-collector recoil experiments. The ²⁴Na, ⁴²K, ⁴³K, ^44mSc, ⁴⁶Sc, ⁴⁷Sc ranges produced in Al, Sc, Ti, V, Fe, Co, Cu targets by 150, 300 and 600 MeV protons were determined. The excitation energies of the residual nuclei, deduced from the ranges, have been compared with theoretical calculations. The analysis shows that if the mass difference of the target and product nucleus is ΔA ? 10 the cascade plays a privileged role. If ΔA>10 an averaging effect is observed. In this case the number of prompt nucleons is about one-third of the total number and the excitation energy per evaporated nucleon is about 11 MeV.     

Evaporation residues from heavy (Z=90–93) compound nuclei at excitation energies of Ex ≃ (75–110) MeV

Evaporation residue cross sections have been measured in reactions⁴⁰Ar +¹⁴⁰Hf,¹⁸¹Ta,¹⁸²W,¹⁸⁴W,^natRe at bombarding energiesE/A=(5.5–6.3) MeV/u. The cross sections do not decrease with increasing nuclear temperature, as expected from statistical model calculations. Rather they are found to be roughly constant. This behavior is predominantly affected by an enhanced emission probability of charged particles. Influence of a ‘fission delay’, which is expected atE ^x>60 MeV from measurements of pre- and post-scission neutrons, on thexn- cross sections has been observed at excitation energiesE ^x>90 MeV. The possibility to produce transfermium isotopes in ‘hot fusion’ reactions has been investigated in an irradiation of²³²Th with⁴⁰Ar. Upper limits of 10 nb for evaporation residues were obtained.     

The study of the (α, α'f) reaction at 120 MeV on 232Th and 238U: (I). Fission probabilities and angular distributions in the region of the giant quadrupole resonances

The fission decay channel of ²³²Th and ²³⁸U has been investigated, using the (α, α'f) reaction at 120 MeV bombarding energy. The angular distributions of the fission fragments and the fission probabilities up to around 15 MeV excitation have been measured. No evidence for the fission decay of the giant quadrupole resonance has been found, although for ²³⁸U, a weakly excited structure is seen in the (α, α'f) spectrum at about 9.5 MeV excitation at backward angles with respect to the recoil axis. This effect is similar to what has been found in a (⁶Li, ⁶Li'f) experiment reported recently. The over-all feature of the fission probability for excitation energies above the fission barrier are well reproduced by statistical calculations.     

Quantum molecular dynamics approach to estimate spallation yield from<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis> +<Superscript>208</Superscript>Pb reaction at 800 MeV

The spallation yield of neutrons and other mass fragments produced in 800 MeV proton induced reaction on²⁰⁸Pb have been calculated in the framework of quantum molecular dynamics (QMD) model. The energy spectra and angular distribution have been calculated. Also, multiplicity distributions of the emitted neutrons and kinetic energy carried away by them have been estimated and compared with the available experimental data. The agreement is satisfactory. A major contribution to the neutron emission comes from statistical decay of the fragments. For mass and charge distributions of spallation products the QMD process gives rise to target-like and projectile-like fragments only.     

Discovery of the First 2- State in 16C via Neutron Knockout Reaction

The ¹⁶C nucleus has been investigated by the neutron knockout reaction of ¹⁷C on a liquid hydrogen target. Applying the invariant mass method in inverse kinematics and γ-ray spectroscopy, the energy spectrum was reconstructed by triple-coincidence measurement, in which neutrons, charged fragments, and γ rays from the decay of the reaction residue (¹⁶C*) were detected. A peak at 0.47 MeV was observed in the invariant mass spectrum in coincidence with a peak at 0.74 MeV in the γ-ray spectrum, which indicates the presence of an unbound state with an excitation energy of 5.46 MeV. Comparison of the experimental cross section with the value derived by a theoretical calculation provided evidence that the spin-parity of this state is 2^?.     

Excitation of 3−1, 5−1 and 7−1 states in Te isotopes A = 120, 122; 124, 126, 128 WITH (p,t) reactions

The reactions ^ATe(p, t)^A?2Te have been studied with even-A targets using 51.9 MeV protons. Three or more strongly excited triton peaks were observed in the spectra of the ^A-2Te nuclei at energies of ≈ 2–3 MeV excitation. Angular distributions are analyzed using DWBA theory. The lowest octupole (3^?₁) states of five Te isotopes are strongly excited. The lowest 3^? state in ¹²⁰Te is established at 2.09 ±0.02 MeV. The systematics of excitation energies and cross sections for the lowest 5^? and 7^? states are interpreted by a quasiparticle model.     

Study of the Three-Nucleon Force Effects in the 2H(p, n) Breakup Reaction at 170 MeV

For the study of three nucleon force (3NF) effects in the intermediate energy region, the differential cross sections and the vector analyzing power A _y were measured for the ²H(p, n) inclusive breakup reaction at 170 MeV. The polarized proton beam of 170 MeV was injected to the deuterated polyethylene (CD₂) target and the energy of scattered neutrons were deduce by TOF method. The data was compared with the results of the Faddeev calculations with and without 3NFs. Concerning about the differential cross sections, we can see large discrepancies between the data and the calculations in the region where the energies of scattered neutrons are low, which are similar to the results of the ²H(p, p) inclusive breakup reaction at 250 MeV.     

Investigation of γ radiation from 178Hf in the respective (n, n′γ) reaction

The spectra and angular distributions of gamma rays were measured in the reaction ¹⁷⁸Hf(n, n???) induced by a beam of fast reactor neutrons. Data onmultipole mixtures in gamma transitions and a lot of new information about gamma transitions of energy 1.5 to 3.0 MeV were obtained. A comparison of these results with information known from the respective (n, ??) reaction made it possible to refine the schemes of deexcitation of ¹⁷⁸Hf levels at energies above 1.5 MeV, to determine more precisely features of these levels, and to introduce new levels and rotation bands at excitation energies of about 2MeV.     

Inelastic excitation and nucleon transfer in quasielastic reactions between86Kr and208Pb at 18.2 MeV/u beam energy

Angular distributions for inelastic scattering, for 1 and 2-nucleon transfer reactions were studied at 18.2 MeV/u beam energy. Owing to sequential decay of excited reaction products the nuclide yield measured at various angles and in different regions of total kinetic energy loss (TKEL) does not represent the yield of primordial nuclides ^A Z. Monte Carlo calculations were applied in order to reconstruct the primary double-differential cross-sections d²σ/dΩdTKEL for values of TKEL up to 80 MeV. By comparing the probability of inelastic scattering and that of transfer reactions it is found that the former dominates for TKEL< 10 MeV, whereas the situation is reversed above 20 MeV. No evidence is found for the excitation of giant resonances with significant cross section.