Exploratory analysis of a neutron-rich nuclei source based on photo-fission

Abstract

A source of neutron rich ions can be conceived through the photo-fission process. An exploratory study of such a source is realized. A survey of the radiative electron energy loss theory is reported in order to estimate numerically the bremsstrahlung production of thick targets. The resulted bremsstrahlung angular and energy theoretical distributions delivered from W and UCx thick converters are presented and compared with previous results. Some quantities as the number of fission events produced in the fissionable source and the energy loss in the converters are also reported as function of the geometry of the combination and the incident electron energy. An attempt of comparison with experimental data shows a quantitative agreement. This study is focussed on initial kinetic energies of the electron beam included in the range 30–60 MeV, suitable for the production of large radiative γ-ray yields able to induce the 238 U fission through the giant dipole resonance. A confrontation with the number of fission events produced in the frame of the fast neutron induced fission method indicates that the photo-fission can be a competitive concept.