In this paper, the distribution of mass and kinetic energy in the cold region of the thermal neutron induced fission of U 233, U 235 and Pu 239, respectively, is interpreted in terms of nucleon pair-breaking and the Coulomb interaction energy between complementary fragments (Coulomb effect). In order to avoid the erosive consequences of neutron emission, one studies the cold fission regions, corresponding to total kinetic energy (TE) close to the maximum available energy of the reaction (Q). Contrary to expected, in cold fission is not observed high odd-even effect in mass number distribution. Nevertheless, the measured values are compatible with higher odd-even effects on proton or neutron number distribution, respectively. In addition, in cold fission, the minimal total excitation energy (X) is correlated with the Coulomb energy excess, which is defined as the difference between C (the electrostatic interaction energy between complementary fragments taken as spherical in scission configuration) and Q. These Coulomb effects increase with the asymmetry of the charge fragmentations. In sum, the experimental data on cold fission suggest that scission configurations explore all the possibilities permitted by the available energy for fission.
This work is focused on even-odd effects on the minimal total fragment excitation energy in thermal neutron induced fission of 233U and 235U as well as in spontaneous fission of 252Cf. In a scission model, taking into account the fragment deformation properties and Coulomb interaction between fragments, the expression of the difference between Q-values referred to even/even and odd/odd charge splits, respectively, on the corresponding difference between the minimal total fragment excitation energy is studied.
The Coulomb effect hypothesis in cold fission, formerly used to interpret fluctuations in the curve of maximal total kinetic energy as a function of fragments mass, in reactions 233U(nth,f), 235U(nth,f) and 239Pu(nth,f), is confirmed by the preference for more asymmetrical charge splits observed in cold fragmentations. Several experimental results on reactions 233U(nth,f) and 235U(nth,f) show that, for two isobaric fragmentations with similar Q-values, the greater is the value of the kinetic energy of the fragments, the greater will be the probability of more asymmetric charge split.
The thesis presents investigations on the angular and mass distribution of fission fragments on heavy ion induced fission reactions. The present investigations address current issues in heavy ion induced fission reactions like finding the optimum entrance channel for the synthesis of super heavy elements (SHE). A double arm time of flight spectrometer over long flight path was used to measure the precise masses of complementary fission fragments. Necessary large area position sensitive gas detectors, the method of experiments and data analysis were developed. The first string of measurements w…
Multi-pronged tracks have been recorded in the polyethylene terephthalate (C$_{10}$H$_8$O$_4$)$_n$ solid state nuclear track detector by exposure to a $^{252}$Cf fission source. After chemical etching, two-prong to six-pronged tracks along with single tracks have been observed under the optical microscope. We carried out a systematic study to understand the origin of the prongs. The track detectors were coated with metals (Cu, Ag and Pb) and were exposed to $^{252}$Cf source. After chemical etching two-prong to four pronged tracks were observed in each plate. We believe that at this very low e…
The energy spectrum of the high energy gamma-rays in coincidence with the prompt gamma rays has been measured for the spontaneous fission of 252Cf. The nucleus-nucleus coherent bremsstrahlung of the accelerating fission fragments is observed and the result has been substantiated with a theoretical calculation based on the coulomb acceleration model. The width of the giant dipole resonance (GDR) decay from the excited fission fragments has been extracted for the first time and compared with the thermal shape fluctuation model (TSFM) in the liquid drop formalism. The extracted GDR width is signi…
The capture-fission cross-sections in an energy range of 206-242 MeV of 48Ca-projectiles and mass-energy distributions (MEDs) of reaction products in an energy range of 211-242 MeV have been measured in the 48Ca+208Pb reaction using the double-arm time-of-flight spectrometer CORSET. The MEDs of fragments for heated fission were shown to consist of two components. One component, which is due to classical fusion-fission, is associated with the symmetric fission of the 256No compound nucleus. The other component, which appears as ''shoulders'', is associated with the quasi-fission process and can…
The Coulomb effect hypothesis, formerly used to interpret fluctuations in the curve of maximal total kinetic energy as a function of light fragment mass in reactions 233U(nth,f), 235U(nth,f) and 239Pu(nth,f), is confirmed in high kinetic energy as well as in low excitation energy windows, respectively. Data from reactions 233U(nth,f), 235U(nth,f), 239Pu(nth,f) and 252Cf(sf) show that, between two isobaric fragmentations with similar Q-values, the more asymmetric charge split reaches the higher value of total kinetic energy. Moreover, in isobaric charge splits with different Q-values, similar p…
In Xe+Sn central collisions from 12 to 20 MeV/A measured with the INDRA 4$π$ multidetector, the three-fragment exit channel occurs with a significant cross section. In this contribution, we show that these fragments arise from two successive binary splittings of a heavy composite system. Strong Coulomb proximity effects are observed in the three-fragment final state. By comparison with Coulomb trajectory calculations, we show that the time scale between the consecutive break-ups decreases with increasing bombarding energy, becoming compatible with quasi-simultaneous multifragmentation above 18…
Fission fragment mass distribution has been measured from the decay of $^{246}$Bk nucleus populating via two entrance channels with slight difference in mass asymmetries but belonging on either side of the Businaro Gallone mass asymmetry parameter. Both the target nuclei were deformed. Near the Coulomb barrier, at similar excitation energies the width of the fission fragment mass distribution was found to be drastically different for the $^{14}$N + $^{232}$Th reaction compared to the $^{11}$B + $^{235}$U reaction. The entrance channel mass asymmetry was found to affect the fusion process sharp…
The cold binary fission of even-even 244-258Cf isotopes has been studied by taking the interacting barrier as the sum of Coulomb and proximity potential. The favorable fragment combinations are obtained from the cold valley plot (plot of driving potential vs. mass number of fragments) and by calculating the yield for charge minimized fragments. It is found that highest yield for 244,246,248Cf isotopes are for the fragments with isotope of Pb (Z=82) as one fragment, whereas for 250Cf and 252Cf isotopes the highest yield is for the fragments with isotope of Hg (Z=80) as one fragment. In the case…
The Coulomb effects hypothesis is used to interpret even-odd effects of maximum total kinetic energy as a function of mass and charge of fragments from thermal neutron induced fission of 235U. Assuming spherical fragments at scission, the Coulomb interaction energy between fragments (C_sph) is higher than the Q-value, the available energy. Therefore at scission the fragments must be deformed, so that the Coulomb interaction energy does not exceed the Q-value. The fact that the even-odd effects in the maximum total kinetic energy as a function of the charge and mass, respectively, are lower tha…
Microscopic effects in fragment mass distributions in fusion-fission reactions of light projectiles (C, O and F) on deformed thorium and spherical bismuth targets in near and below Coulomb barrier energies are investigated. Precisely measured mass distribution shows a sudden anomalous increase in variances of mass distributions ($σ_{m}^2$) near Coulomb barrier energies for all three projectiles with deformed thorium target, in contrast to a smooth variation of $σ_{m}^2$ with energy for spherical bismuth target. Macroscopic effects of change in mass flow or prolonged mass equilibration time can…
Our measurements of variances ($σ_{m}^2$) in mass distributions of fission fragments from fusion-fission reactions of light projectiles (C, O and F) on deformed thorium targets exhibit a sharp anomalous increase with energy near the Coulomb barrier, in contrast to the smooth variation of $σ_{m}^2$ for the spherical bismuth target. This departure from expectation based on a statistical description is explained in terms of microscopic effects arising from the orientational dependence in the case of deformed thorium targets.
During the fission process, the nucleus deforms and elongates up to the two fragments inception and their final separation at scission deformation. The evolution of the nucleus energy with deformation is determined by the macroscopic properties of the nucleus, and is also strongly influenced by the single-particle structure of the nucleus. The fission fragment distribution is a direct consequence of the deformation path the nucleus has encountered, and therefore is the most genuine experimental observation of the potential energy landscape of the deforming nucleus. Very asymmetric fusion-fissi…
A two-step reaction scheme for the production of extremely neutron-rich radioactive beams, fission followed by cold fragmentation, is considered. The cross sections of the second step, the cold fragmentation of neutron-rich fission fragments, are estimated with different computer codes. Discrepancies between an empirical systematics and nuclear-reaction codes are found.
Within the Unified ternary fission model (UTFM), the alpha accompanied ternary fission of even-even $^{244-260}$Cf isotopes has been studied by taking the interacting barrier as the sum of Coulomb and proximity potential. For the alpha accompanied ternary fission of 244^Cf isotope, the highest yield is obtained for the fragment combination 108^Ru+4^He+132^Te, which contain near doubly magic nuclei 132^Te (N=80, Z=52). In the case of 246^Cf and 248^Cf isotopes, the highest yield is obtained for the fragment combinations with near doubly magic nuclei 134^Te (N=82, Z=52) as the heavier fragment. …
A direct and complete measurement of isotopic fission-fragment yields of $^{239}$U has been performed for the first time. The $^{239}$U fissioning system was produced with an average excitation energy of 8.3 MeV in one-neutron transfer reactions between a $^{238}$U beam and a $^{9}$Be target at Coulomb barrier energies. The fission fragments were detected and isotopically identified using the VAMOS++ spectrometer at the GANIL facility. This measurement allows to directly evaluate the fission models at excitation energies of fast neutrons, relevant for next-generation nuclear reactors. The pres…
Mechanism of nuclear reactions on 197Au induced by 11B ions at energies above Coulomb barrier was studied by induced-activity method and gamma-spectroscopy. The cross sections of the reaction fragments from 197Au induced by 11B ions were measured at bombarding energies 137.5 and 255.5 MeV. The fission process was investigated by using multimodal fission approach at the energy 137.5 MeV, and pure symmetric distribution at 255.5 MeV. It was observed that the transferred linear momentum provides the information on the initial projectile-target information. The fissility for both fission reactions…
An analysis of the $^{231}$Pa$(d,3n)$$^{230}$U reaction excitation function at energies around the Coulomb barrier has taken into account the pre-equilibrium and compound-nucleus cross sections corrected for the deuteron-breakup decrease of the total reaction cross section, as well as the inelastic breakup enhancement. The analysis reveals the dominance of the deuteron breakup mechanism unlike a former assessment in this respect of the deuteron-induced fission process.
The mechanism of fusion hindrance, an effect preventing the synthesis of superheavy elements in the reactions of cold and hot fusion, is investigated using the Boltzmann-Uehling-Uhlenbeck equation, where Coulomb interaction is introduced. A strong sensitivity is observed both to the modulus of incompressibility of symmetric nuclear matter, controlling the competition of surface tension and Coulomb repulsion, and to the stiffness of the density-dependence of symmetry energy, influencing the formation of the neck prior to scission. The experimental fusion probabilities were for the first time us…
Isotopic fission yields of ${}^{240}$Pu as a function of the excitation energy
GANIL, CNRS/IN2P3, CEA/DRF（GANIL，法国国家科学研究中心/欧洲核子研究组织，法国原子能和替代能源委员会）；IGFAE - Universidade de Santiago de Compostela（圣地亚哥-德孔波斯特拉大学 IGFAE 研究所）；IJC Lab, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS/IN2P3（巴黎萨克雷大学 IJC 实验室，法国国家科学研究中心/欧洲核子研究组织）；IFIC, Centro Mixto Universidad de Valencia-CSIC（瓦伦西亚大学-西班牙国家科学研究理事会混合中心 IFIC）；CINTECX, Universidade de Vigo（维戈大学 CINTECX 研究中心）；CEA Saclay, DRF/IRFU/SPhN（法国原子能和替代能源委员会萨克雷园区，研究与技术发展部/核物理研究所）
The measurement for charge distributions of fragments in 252Cf has been performed by using a unique style of detector setup consisting of a typical grid ionization chamber and a dE-E particle telescope. We found that the fragment mass dependency of the average width of the charge distribution shows a systematic decreased trend with the obvious odd-even effect. The variation of widths of charge distribution with kinetic energies shows an approximate V-shape curve due to the large number of neutron emission for the high excitation energies and cold fragmentation with low excitation energies. As …
We elucidated the reason why the average total kinetic energy (TKE) of fission fragments decreases when the excitation energy of the fissioning systems increases as indicated by experimental data for the neutron-induced fission events. To explore this problem, we used a method based on the four-dimensional Langevin equations we have developed. We have calculated the TKE of fission fragments for fissioning systems $^{236}$U$^{*}$ and $^{240}$Pu$^{*}$ excited above respective fission barriers, and compared the results with experimental data for n + $^{235}$U and n + $^{239}$Pu reactions, respect…
Presence of closed proton and/or neutron shells causes deviation from macroscopic properties of nuclei which are understood in terms of the liquid drop model. It is important to investigate experimentally the stabilizing effects of shell closure, if any, against fission. This work aims to investigate probable effects of proton shell ($Z = 82$) closure in the compound nucleus, in enhancing survival probability of the evaporation residues formed in heavy ion-induced fusion-fission reactions. Evaporation residue cross sections have been measured for the reactions $^{19}$F+$^{180}$Hf, $^{19}$F+$^{…
The predictions on the mode of decay of the odd-even and odd-odd isotopes of heavy and superheavy nuclei with Z = 99-129, in the range 228 \leg A \leg 336, have been done within the Coulomb and proximity potential model for deformed nuclei (CPPMDN). A comparison of our calculated alpha half lives with the values computed using other theoretical models shows good agreement with each other. An extensive study on the spontaneous fission half lives of all the isotopes under study has been performed to identify the long-lived isotopes in the mass region. The study reveals that the alpha decay half …
Medium-spin excited states of the neutron-rich nucleus $^{87}$Br were observed and studied for the first time. They were populated in fission of $^{235}$U induced by the cold-neutron beam of the PF1B facility of the Institut Laue-Langevin, Grenoble. The measurement of $γ$ radiation following fission has been performed using the EXILL array of Ge detectors. The observed level scheme was compared with results of large valence space shell model calculations. The medium-spin level scheme consists of three band-like structures, which can be understood as bands built on the $πf_{5/2}$, $π(p_{3/2}+f_…
Decay modes of excited nuclei are investigated in $^{78,82}$Kr + $^{40}$Ca reactions at 5.5 MeV/nucleon. Charged products were measured by means of the $4π$ INDRA array. Kinetic-energy spectra and angular distributions of fragments with atomic number 3 $\le Z \le$ 28 indicate a high degree of relaxation and are compatible with a fission-like phenomenon. Persistence of structure effects is evidenced from elemental cross-sections ($σ_{Z}$) as well as a strong odd-even-staggering (o-e-s) of the light-fragment yields. The magnitude of the staggering does not significantly depend on the neutron con…
In high energy heavy ion collisions and interacting cold atom systems, large elliptic flow anisotropies have been observed. For the large opacity ($ρσL\sim 10^{3}$) of the latter hydrodynamics is a natural consequence, but for the small opacity ($ρσL\sim 1$) of the former hydrodynamic description is questionable. To shed light onto the situation, we simulate the expansion of a low density Argon ion (or atom) system, initially trapped in an elliptical region, under the Coulomb interaction (or elastic scattering). Significant elliptic anisotropy is found in both cases, and the anisotropy depends…
