The decay of uranium shape isomers investigated by photonuclear reactions

The half-life of the ²³⁸U shape isomer and its yield ratio in a (γ, γ') reaction have been measured by pulsed beam techniques at a bremsstrahlung endpoint energy of 12 MeV. From the results $\text{(T}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{= 146 ± 22}\text{ns}\text{, Y}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>iso</mtext>}}\text{/Y}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>pr</mtext>}}\text{= (6.6 ± 1.0) × 10}{}^{\mathrm{?6}}\text{)}$ the isomeric fission cross section has been deduced. Combining this information with the results of a previous ²³⁸U(γ, xnγ) study, an upper limit for the branching ratio Γ_γ/Γ_f|II < 13 for the decay of ^238mU can be obtained. The decay properties of the ²³⁶U and ²³⁸U shape isomers are discussed.