Sequential fission studies in the interaction of 9.03 MeV/N 238U with natU using mica track detectors

Abstract

The heavy ion interaction 9.03 MeV/N 238U + natU has been investigated using mica Solid State Nuclear Track Detector (SSNTD) in 2π-geometry. Numerical analysis of the track data yielded masses and energies of the reaction products formed in two-, three- and four-prong events. It has been observed that sequential fission, yielding three or four heavy fragments in the exit channel, is the main mode of the interaction. The five particle exit channel occurred with a considerable smaller probability. The relative yield of the four-particle exit channel increases with total kinetic energy loss (TKEL). But at the highest TKEL this trend is reversed and we observe the same amount of three-prong events as four-prong events. This might be explained by the large mass transfer forming surviving intermediate masses relatively stable against fission.