The use of radioanalytical techniques to study intermediate energy,relativistic, and ultra-relativistic nuclear collisions

The use of radioanalytical techniques to study heavy ion induced nuclear reactions offers some distinct advantages over conventional physical techniques. Among these are (a) unit Z and A resultion in detecting the reaction products (b) high sensitivity for low probability events (c) lack of low energy thresholds or cutoffs in measuring reactcion product energy spectcra (d) economical use of accelerator time and (e) simple, portable experimental apparatus allowing broad survey measurements of reaction mechanisms at a variety of nuclear particle accelerators. We describe examples of these advantages from our research in nuclear chemistry.     

Isomer ratio measurements for the reaction 29Si(18O,p2n)44m, 44gSc

Isomer ratios for the reaction ²⁹Si(¹⁸O, p2n)^44gSc, ^44gSc have been deduced from activity measurements for projectile energies between 30 and 99 MeV. Statistical model calculations show that the isomer ratio dependence on projectile energy up to about 80 MeV can be adequately described by assuming a fixed ratio of quadrupole to dipole γ-ray strengths. Such a ratio of E2/E1 strengths agrees with corresponding values deduced from the literature. The values of the γ-ray strength ratios needed to fit the experimental isomer ratios are extremely sensitive to the relative amounts of quadrupole γ-ray admixture and to the presence of discrete levels other than those which conform to the yrast line.     

Beta-decay energies and masses of short-lived isotopes of rubidium,caesium, francium,and radium

Total decay energies have been measured for a number of neutron-deficient Rb and Cs isotopes, as well as for some neutron-rich isotopes of Fr and Ra. Mass separated sources were produced at the ISOLDE on-line separator at CERN. By applying two differentβ-γ coincidence methods,Q values or their lower limits were determined for^76–78Rb,⁸⁰Rb,^121–124Cs,²²²Fr,^224–226Fr,²²⁹Ra-²²⁹Ac. For many of these nuclei, the atomic mass excesses could be derived, allowing the comparison of masses of far unstable nuclei with predictions from mass formulae. The odd-odd nuclei⁷⁶Rb and⁷⁸Rb appear to be 1?1 1/2 MeV more strongly bound than expected from the systematics.     

Delayed neutron emission probabilities of gallium,bromine, rubidium,indium, antimony,iodine, and cesium precursors

The delayed neutron emission probability(P _n) has been measured for^79-83Ga,^87-89Br,^92-96Rb^127-132In^134,135Sb^137-139I and^{141 -145}Cs, by means of sources produced at the OSIRIS isotope separator at Studsvik. The half-life determinations of^{127, 129, 132}In have been improved.     

Target-fragment angular distributions for the interaction of 86 MeV/A12C with 197Au

Target-fragment angular distributions were measured using radiochemical techniques for 69 different fragments (44 ? A ? 196) from the interaction of 86 MeV/A¹²C with ¹⁹⁷Au. The angular distributions in the laboratory system are forward-peaked with some distributions also showing a backward peaking. The shapes of the laboratory system distributions were compared with the predictions of the nuclear firestreak model. The measured angular distributions differed markedly from the predictions of the firestreak model in most cases. This discrepancy could be due, in part, to overestimation of the transferred longitudinal momentum by the firestreak model, the assumption of isotropic angular distributions for fission and particle emission in the moving frame and incorrect assumptions about how the lightest (A < 60) fragments are produced. No evidence was found for any significant number of target fragments moving sidewise to the beam direction in apparent contradiction to the expectation of hydrodynamical-model calculations. The laboratory-frame angular distributions were transformed into the moving frame using various assumptions about the moving frame velocity. The resulting light-fragment distributions showed an asymmetry in the moving frame indicative of their production in a fast process without the establishment of statistical equilibrium. No evidence was found for any production of the light fragments by a very asymmetric fission mechanism. The fission-fragment distributions were compared to standard formulas and an average fissioning-system angular momentum of $\text{J = 40?50}\text{h}\text{?}$ was deduced. It was not possible to find a moving frame in which the heavy (A > 145) fragment distributions were symmetric about 90°.     

Investigation of the unusual behavior of projectile fragments using nuclear chemistry techniques

In recent years the question of the unusual behavior of projectile fragments formed in the interaction of relativistic heavy ions with copper nuclei was studied using nuclear chemistry techniques. As targets we used various copper disk arrangements. It is not the intention of this conference contribution to give a complete account of the entire procedure and its results. However, we want to present a few more recent experimental findings, some of them even in a preliminary form. We want to stimulate the discussion about the entire problem which might be part of the so-called anomalon phenomenon, as observed in the field of relativistic heavy ion interactions with a few other techniques such as nuclear emulsions or bubble chambers.     

Cross-section limits for the 208 Pb(86 Kr,n)293118 reaction

In April-May, 2001, the previously reported experiment to synthesize element 118 using the ²⁰⁸Pb(⁸⁶Kr,n)²⁹³118 reaction was repeated. No events corresponding to the synthesis of element 118 were observed with a total beam dose of 2.6 x 10¹⁸ ions. The simple upper-limit cross-sections (1 event) were 0.9 and 0.6 pb for evaporation residue magnetic rigidities of 2.00 Tm and 2.12 Tm, respectively. A more detailed cross-section calculation, accounting for an assumed narrow excitation function, the energy loss of the beam in traversing the target and the uncertainty in the magnetic rigidity of the Z = 118 recoils is also presented. Re-analysis of the primary data files from the 1999 experiment showed the reported element 118 events are not in the original data. The current results put constraints on the production cross-section for synthesis of very heavy nuclei in cold-fusion reactions.Received: 2 September 2002, Revised: 10 April 2003, Published online: 18 November 2003PACS: 25.70.Gh Compound nucleus - 25.70.Jj Fusion and fusion-fission reactions - 27.90. + b      

Decay schemes and total decay energies of89Br and90Br

Spectroscopical investigations of⁸⁹Br and⁹⁰Br have been performed, utilizing the formation of the molecular ion AlBr⁺ in the ion-source of an isotope separator on-line a reactor. Detailed level schemes have been constructed for⁸⁹Kr and⁹⁰Kr, and theβ-strength function of⁸⁹Br and⁹⁰Br below the neutron binding energy is presented. The total decay energy of^89,90Br, as well as of⁸⁹Kr, have been measured by means ofβ γ-coincidences, and the population of excited states in⁸⁹Kr via⁹⁰Br delayed neutrons has been deduced.     

Total β-decay energies and masses of85–89Br

Experimentalβ-decay energies of neutron-rich bromine isotopes are presented. The samples were produced as mass-separated fission products by using the on-line isotope separator technique. By means of a Si(Li)-detector system,β-spectra were recorded in coincidence with differentγ-gates, and {ie173-01}-values for^85–89Br were deduced. The atomic mass excess is derived for these nuclei, and comparisons are made with mass formula predictions. The possibility of delayed-neutron emission is discussed in conjunction with information from the shape of the delayed-neutron spectra.