Charge distribution study in the alpha-particle induced fission of232Th+ effect of excitation energy

The fractional cumulative yields of¹³⁵I,¹³⁸Xe and¹⁴⁰Ba in the particle (30 MeV) induced fission of²³²Th have been determined following the growth and decay of^135gXe,^138gCs and¹⁴⁰La, respectively, employing high resolution gamma ray spectroscopy. The fractional cumulative yield values are 0.766±0.02, 0.813±0.03 and 0.991±0.004, respectively. The analysis of the data indicates a broader width of charge distribution () compared to the normally observed =0.56±0.06 for thermal neutron fission of²³⁵U.     

Cumulative yields of the short-lived ruthenium isotopes in the spontaneous fission of252Cf

⁶⁷Ga is produced by the⁶⁶Zn(d,n) reaction at 9 MeV bombarding energy. Deuterons of about 30 A obtained from the T-11 Tandem accelerator are used to bombard targets of natural Zinc prepared by electroplating onto thick copper disks. Radiochemical separation of gallium is performed by using a cation exchange column. The optimum conditions for an efficient separation are given in detail.     

Guaiacol as a new reagent for the spectrophotometric determination of uranium

Guiacol, i.e. o-hydroxyanisole, gives a distinct color reaction with U(VI) suitable for spectrophotometric determination of the metal. The complex formed in the reaction has an absorption maximum at 352 nm. Optimum pH for the color development ranges from 6.5 to 8.5. The molar absorptivity and Sandell's sensitivity of the method were found to be 3.75×10³ l·mol^–1·cm^–1 and 0.063 g·cm^–2, respectively. Many anions and cations do not interfere up to 100 ppm. The method has been made very specific by selective extraction of U(VI) with TBP from a mixture of different cations and anions in the presence of 60% NH₄NO₃ as salting out agent followed by developing the color in the non-aqueous phase by adding quaiacol in methanol at pH 6.5 to 8.5 An amount as low as 30 g of uranium (VI) per 10 ml of the solution could be satisfactorily determined with an RSD of ±2.0%. The method was applied to rock samples after U(VI) had been extracted from a sample solution into 25% TBP in hexane. Results obtained by the new method compare very well with those of conventional fluorimetric and radiometric assays. The features of the method include excellent precision, rapidity, good selectivity, and ease of performance.     

Fragment angular momenta in low and medium energy fission of242Pu

Independent isomeric yield ratios of¹²⁸Sb were determined radiochemically in the thermal neutron induced fission of²⁴¹Pu and 34 MeV alpha particle induced fission of²³⁸U, both involving the same compound nucleus (²⁴²Pu). Fragment angular momenta estimated from the measured isomer ratios using the statistical model analysis showed significantly larger fragment angular momenta in the medium energy fissioning system compared to the low energy fissioning system. This has been attributed to the effect of higher excitation energy and angular momentum in the entrance channel leading to increased fragment temperature, moments of inertia and angular velocity. An attempt was made to calculate the fragment angular momentum in the medium energy fission using the Fermi gas model for the fissioning nucleus, taking into account the multichance fission, saddle shapes of the fissioning nuclei and the angular velocity components of the fissioning nuclei both along and orthogonal to the fission axis. The calculated angular momenta agree well with the experimental results.     

Mobility of a single alkali metal atom on fullerene C60: first principles molecular dynamical study

The dynamical behavior of a single K or Na alkali metal atom on the surface of a C(60) molecule is investigated via Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics simulations in a temperature range up to 300 K. These provide direct evidence for the heteroatom motion, postulated earlier in pioneering experiments, and show that an alkali metal atom can move both on the surface and radially outward from the surface, resulting in a dynamics ranging from diffusive to free orbital motion, on time-scales of up to a few picoseconds.     

Correlations of fission fragment angular momentum with collective and intrinsic degrees of freedom

In the present work angular momenta of the fragments corresponding to¹³²I^m,g have been deduced from the radiochemically determined independent isomeric yield ratios and statistical model based analysis in neutron induced fission of²³⁵U,²³⁹Pu and²⁴⁵Cm and spontaneous fission of²⁵²Cf. These data along with similar data on¹³⁴I, reported earlier from this laboratory, bring out the effects of deformed 66n and spherical 82n shells on fragment angular momentum showing also an inverse correlation of the latter with elemental yields. Quantitative estimates of fragment scission point deformation and the coefficient of change of fragment angular momentum with kinetic/excitation energy have been deduced and are seen to be in good agreement with the expected theoretical estimates.     

Shape of the 935 keV beta transition of143Pr

The beta spectrum shape of the 7/2⁺ → 7/2^? beta transition in the decay of¹⁴³Pr is measured employing a thoroughly tested intermediate image beta ray spectrometer of the Siegbahn-Slatis type and using the source produced by irradiation of highly enriched stable¹⁴²Ce sample. The spectrum exhibits a definite energy dependence and is well fitted with shape factorC(W) = 1 ? (0·057 ± 0·006)W whereW is in m₀c² units for an end point energy of 935 ± 2 keV agreeing well with the results of Hamiltonet al and Spejweskiet al and disagreeing with the results of Persson and Reynolds. The single particle configurations for the low lying levels of¹⁴³Pr could not give quantitative results.     

Nonlinear optical response of fullerenes

A critical review of nonlinear optical properties of fullerenes is presented. We explore structure property relationships for optical nonlinearities of these unusual π electron systems from two complementary angles: (i) to explore the possibility of obtaining structural information from nonlinear optical experiments and (ii) to assess the potential of fullerenes, fullerites and their derivatives for the practical nonlinear optical devices. In particular we show that substituted fullerenes form an interesting class of molecules for nonlinear optics. We will also show that third harmonic generation of circularly polarised light in the solid fullerites should yield some information on the intermolecular interactions in these solids.

We critically examine the various calculations indicating that the screening of the optical fields due to electron-electron interaction may reduce the optical susceptibilities of these molecules by a large factor and suggest experiments that may clarify the issue.     

The quadrupole moment of176Lu

The intrinsic quadrupole moment of¹⁷⁶Lu has been determined by Coulomb excitation with α-particles to be 6.98±0.10 b. Evidence for a new level at approximately 578 keV with presumably collective structure is presented.