Β-delayed Neutrons Research Articles

The essential decay of pandemonium: β-delayed neutrons

The β-delayed neutron decay of a fictional nuclide, pandemonium, is created numerically using a statistical model and Monte Carlo techniques. The neutron spectra generated are compared with experimental results for the decays of 85As, 87Br, 135Sb and 137I. Contrary to previously held beliefs, we find the experimental data to be consistent in all important aspects with a statistical interpretation. It is shown that peak-stripping analyses of the more complex experimental neutron spectra cannot yield reliable decay schemes. In particular, schemes obtained previously for the decays of 85As and 135Sb, together with discussions of structure supposedly in their β-decay strength functions, must be regarded as unjustified.

Delayed-neutron spectroscopy with 3He spectrometers

The characteristics of a 3He ionization chamber for high-resolution spectroscopy of β-delayed neutrons have been examined. The detector response function is given in the energy range 0.019–2.77 MeV. A considerably improved energy resolution has been achieved by minimizing effects due to pulse summing, detection of scattered neutrons, and microphonics, and is most evident in the low-energy part of the spectra.