Beta-delayed Neutron Emission Research Articles

High-Precision Experiments with Trapped Radioactive Ions Produced at Relativistic Energies

Research on radioactive ion beams produced with in-flight separation of relativistic beams has advanced significantly over the past decades, with contributions to nuclear physics, nuclear astrophysics, atomic physics, and other fields. Central to these advancements are improved production, separation, and identification methods.The FRS Ion Catcher at GSI/FAIRexemplifies these technological advancements. The system facilitates high-precision experiments by efficiently stopping and extracting exotic nuclei as ions and making these available at thermal energies. High-energy synchrotron beams enhance the system’s capabilities, enabling unique experimental techniques such as multi-step reactions, mean range bunching, and optimized stopping, as well as novel measurement methods for observables such as beta-delayed neutron emission probabilities. The FRS Ion Catcher has already contributed to various scientific fields, and the future with the Super-FRS at FAIR promises to extend research to even more exotic nuclei and new applications.

A Problem in the Statistical Description of Beta-Delayed Neutron Emission

Reaction measurements on fission products are being planned at both Argonne National Lab and at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams. These indirect experiments produce specific short-lived nuclei via beta decay, and the subsequent neutron and gamma emission are studied. Some initial experiments found a surprising overabundance of gamma emission, which theory has yet to explain. To remedy this, we are developing an integrated nuclear data workflow that connects advanced nuclear shell model codes for describing the beta decay with a contemporary nuclear reaction model code.

β− -delayed fission in the coupled quasiparticle random-phase approximation plus Hauser-Feshbach approach

Beta-delayed neutron emission and $\beta$-delayed fission ($\beta$df) probabilities were calculated for heavy, neutron-rich nuclei using the Los Alamos coupled Quasi-Particle Random Phase Approximation plus Hauser-Feshbach (QRPA+HF) approach. In this model, the compound nucleus is initially populated by $\beta$-decay and is followed through subsequent statistical decays taking into account competition between neutrons, $\gamma$-rays and fission. The primary output of these calculations includes branching ratios along with neutron and $\gamma$-ray spectra. We find a relatively large region of heavy nuclides where the probability of $\beta$df is near 100%. For a subset of nuclei near the neutron dripline, delayed neutron emission and the probability to fission are both large which leads to the possibility of multi-chance $\beta$df (mc-$\beta$df). We comment on prospective neutron-rich nuclei that could be probed by future experimental campaigns and provide a full table of branching ratios in ASCII format in the supplemental material for use in various applications.

Theoretical description of the decay width of neutron emission in light nuclei

<p indent="0mm">The study of nuclear decay is an important field for investigating nuclear structures and nucleosynthesis. The existence of Coulomb interaction makes the emission of charged particles have a relatively long half-life. Based on the WKB approximation and the R-matrix method, several empirical formulas describing the proton decay, alpha decay, and emission of charged clusters have been proposed, e.g., the new Geiger-Nutall formula and the Universal Decay Law. The investigation of beta delayed proton(s) decay enhances understanding of isospin symmetry breaking and mixing. Because of the absence of Coulomb interaction, the half-life of neutron emission is much shorter. For neutron-unbound states, the experimentalists concentrate more on discovering neutron-rich nuclei beyond the neutron-drip line. The theorists are more interested in establishing models for a specific nucleus to describe the one- and two-neutron emission phenomenon. The universal law describing the general characteristics of single neutron emission is rarely taken into account. This paper applies the WKB approximation and the R-matrix method to investigate the decay width of the single neutron emission. The square well potential and the harmonic oscillator potential are used as input of nuclear potential. As to the R-matrix method, the sine function basis and the Lagrange basis are applied, respectively. Both the WKB approximation and the R-matrix method calculate the decay width in two parts: The formation factor and the penetration factor. A three-variable formula is deduced from the penetration factor of these two theories. As to the ground states emitting a single neutron, the root-mean-square of log₁₀<italic>Γ</italic>_exp/<italic>Γ</italic>_cal for the three-variable formula is only 0.31, which shows a good description ability. The decay widths of the other 13 nuclides are thus predicted. For the excited states, the direct application of the two theories presents deviation within an order of about 3. The decay width is found to be sensible to the radius of nuclear force and less sensible to the depth of nuclear potential according to the comparison between the square well potential and the harmonic oscillator potential. The hard-core effect is intrinsically considered by the R-matrix method, compared with the WKB approximation, which shows an overall overestimation. After removing such an overestimation, the deviation of the WKB approximation is reduced to be in the order of about 0.8. The three-variable formula shows better description capability, and the deviation is reduced to be in the order of 0.56. The suggested formula is the first try to describe the decay width of a single neutron emission well, which is beneficial to further investigate the characteristics of nuclei near the neutron drip line. Moreover, the influence of spin-orbit interaction, the tensor force, and the shell effect can be taken into account for amelioration. Besides, the fission products of heavy nuclei are generally in highly excited states and will be deexcited through beta decay, emitting neutrons, etc. The neutron emission and beta-delayed neutron emission in these processes are important for the chain reaction and the control of the nuclear reactor. For further investigation, the results of this paper will be extended and applied to the region of nuclear fission products.

ФИЛЬТР КАЛЬМАНА В ЗАДАЧЕ ОЦЕНКИ 8-ГРУППОВЫХ СПЕКТРОВ ЗАПАЗДЫВАЮЩИХ НЕЙТРОНОВ ПРИ ДЕЛЕНИИ 235U ТЕПЛОВЫМИ НЕЙТРОНАМИ

In the present work the estimation of the 8-group delayed neutron energy spectra emitted in the fission of 235U by thermal neutrons have been done. Aggregate delayed neutron spectra that were measured with high resolution in the different time intervals after the thermal neutron irradiation of the 235U sample presented in the IAEA reference database for beta-delayed neutron emission have been used for the estimation process. Due to the lack of the uncertainties for the spectra presented in this database and the necessity of this data in the process of estimation of delayed neutron group spectra at first the estimation of uncertainties of these spectra have been done. In the estimation process the following components of uncertainty have been considered: statistical; the component due to the neutron background; component due to the distinctive features of neutron spectra restoration process measured using spectrometer filled by helium-3 and also the component appearing due to introduction of the correction on the distortion of the neutron spectra as a result of passing through the lead sheilding. Estimation of spectra have been made using the technique based on the Kalman filter that allows to take into account the uncertainties of the input data. Estimation results are shown in the numerical and graphic form.

Development of a Reference Database for Beta-Delayed Neutron Emission

Beta-delayed neutron emission is important for nuclear structure and astrophysics as well as for reactor applications. Significant advances in nuclear experimental techniques in the past two decades have led to a wealth of new measurements that remain to be incorporated in the databases.We report on a coordinated effort to compile and evaluate all the available β-delayed neutron emission data. The different measurement techniques have been assessed and the data have been compared with semi-microscopic and microscopic-macroscopic models. The new microscopic database has been tested against aggregate total delayed neutron yields, time-dependent group parameters in 6-and 8-group re-presentation, and aggregate delayed neutron spectra. New recommendations of macroscopic delayed-neutron data for fissile materials of interest to applications are also presented. The new Reference Database for Beta-Delayed Neutron Emission Data is available online at: http://www-nds.iaea.org/beta-delayed-neutron/database.html.

Determination of beta-delayed neutron emission probability limits of rhodium isotopes by gamma-ray spectroscopy

The decay of five neutron-heavy rhodium isotopes were studied at the Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory (RIBF) Facility at the RIKEN Nishina Center after relativistic fission of 238U beam on a thick beryllium target. Previously unknown associated gamma-ray decay energies are reported for each nuclide, and through evaluating the intensity of the 2+ → 0+ E2 transition in the even-even palladium daughter nuclei, 120,122,124Pd, from the beta-tagged gamma-ray spectra an upper or lower limit of beta-delayed neutron emission is deduced for each nuclei. A general, expected trend of increasing Pn is observed in the direction of the neutron drip line.

Compilation and Evaluation of Beta-Delayed Neutron Emission Probabilities and Half-Lives for Z > 28 Precursors

We present a compilation and evaluation of experimental β-delayed neutron emission probabilities (Pn) and half-lives (T1/2) for known or potential β-delayed neutron precursors with atomic number Z > 28 (73Cu–233Fr). This article includes the recommended values of both of these quantities, together with a compilation of experimental measurements when available. Some notable cases, as well as proposed standards for β-delayed neutron measurements are also discussed. Evaluated data has also been compared to systematics using three different approaches. The literature cut-off date for this work is August 15, 2020.

Conceptual design and first results for a neutron detector with interaction localization capabilities

A new high-precision detector for studying neutrons from beta-delayed neutron emission and direct reaction studies is proposed. The Neutron dEtector with Xn Tracking (NEXT) array is designed to maintain high intrinsic neutron detection efficiency while reducing uncertainties in neutron energy measurements. A single NEXT module is composed of thin segments of plastic scintillator, each optically separated, capable of neutron-gamma discrimination. Each segmented module is coupled to position sensitive photodetectors enabling the high-precision determination of neutron time of arrival and interaction position within the active volume. A design study has been conducted based on simulations and experimental tests leading to the construction of prototype units. First results from measurements using a $^{252}$Cf neutron source and accelerator-produced monoenergetic neutrons are presented.

β -decay properties of neutron-rich Ca, Ti, and Cr isotopes

Beta-decay properties of neutron-rich Ca, Ti, and Cr isotopes are studied within a deformed proton-neutron quasiparticle random-phase approximation. The underlying mean field is described self-consistently from deformed Skyrme Hartree-Fock calculations with pairing correlations. Residual spin-isospin interactions in the particle-hole and particle-particle channels are also included in the formalism. The energy distributions of the Gamow-Teller strength, the beta-decay feedings, the beta-decay half-lives, and the beta-delayed neutron emission probabilities are discussed and compared with other theoretical results, as well as with the available experimental information. The evolution of these nuclear beta-decay properties is investigated in isotopic chains in a search for structural changes. A reliable estimate of the beta-decay properties in this mass region is a valuable information for evaluating decay rates in astrophysical scenarios.

Recoil-ion detection efficiency for complex [formula omitted] decays studied using the Beta-decay Paul Trap

Beta-delayed neutron emission is being studied by detecting the β particles and recoiling ions emerging from the Beta-decay Paul Trap. For β decays to the ground state or γ-emitting states of the daughter nucleus, the fraction of recoiling ions which reach the ion detector in coincidence with a β particle has been determined for 134, 135Sb, 137, 138, 140I, and 144, 145Cs. This value is needed for the determination of the β-delayed neutron emission branching ratio solely from the recoil-ion time-of-flight (TOF) spectrum. The β-particle energy and recoil-ion TOF spectra were used to constrain a simple decay model, which can be used to determine the detection efficiency. The method is compared to simulations to estimate the uncertainty introduced by incomplete knowledge of the decay pattern. By fitting the simulation results to several β-ion coincidence properties measured during the experiment, the fraction of ions which reach the microchannel plate detector can be determined to within ±4%. This result opens the possibility of using the recoil-ion TOF spectra for high precision β-delayed neutron branching-ratio measurements.

Impact of Tensor Interaction on Beta-Delayed Neutron Emission from Neutron-Rich Nickel Isotopes

The Skyrme energy density functional including tensor interaction is used to describe microscopically multineutron delayed-neutron emission accompanying beta decay of even–even neutron-rich nickel isotopes of mass number in the range of A = 74−80. The respective calculations are performed in the quasiparticle random-phase approximation with allowance for the two-phonon components of the wave function for states of the daughter nucleus. The properties of the lowest quadrupole excitation of 74,76,78,80Ni are also studied. It is shown that a decrease in the strength of neutron–proton tensor interaction leads to a substantial hindrance of beta decay and to an increase in the probability for delayedneutron emission.

β -decay properties of neutron-rich rare-earth isotopes

In this paper, beta-decay properties of even-even neutron-rich isotopes in the rare-earth mass region are studied within a microscopic theoretical approach based on a proton-neutron quasiparticle random-phase approximation. The underlying mean field is constructed selfconsistently from a deformed Hartree-Fock calculation with Skyrme interactions and pairing correlations to which particle-hole and particle-particle residual interactions are added. Nuclei in this mass region participate in the astrophysical rapid neutron capture process and are directly involved in the generation of the rare-earth peak in the isotopic abundance pattern centered at A=160. The energy distributions of the Gamow-Teller strength as well as the beta-decay half-lives and the beta-delayed neutron-emission probabilities are discussed and compared with the available experimental information and with calculations based on different approaches.

New accurate measurements of neutron emission probabilities for relevant fission products

We have performed new accurate measurements of the beta-delayed neutron emission probability for ten isotopes of the elements Y, Sb, Te and I. These are fission products that either have a significant contribution to the fraction of delayed neutrons in reactors or are relatively close to the path of the astrophysical r process. The measurements were performed with isotopically pure radioactive beams using a constant and high efficiency neutron counter and a low noise beta detector. Preliminary results are presented for six of the isotopes and compared with previous measurements and theoretical calculations.

First Evidence of Multiple $\beta $-delayed Neutron Emission for Isotopes with $A&gt;100$

The beta-delayed neutron emission probability, P-n, of very neutron-rich nuclei allows us to achieve a better understanding of the nuclear structure above the neutron separation energy, S-n. The emission of neutrons can become the dominant decay process in neutron-rich astrophysical phenomena such as the rapid neutron capture process (r-process). There are around 600 accessible isotopes for which beta-delayed one-neutron emission (beta 1n) is energetically allowed, but the branching ratio has only been determined for about one third of them. beta 1n decays have been experimentally measured up to the mass A similar to 1 5 0, plus a single measurement of Tl-210. Concerning two-neutron emitters (beta 2n), similar to 3 0 0 isotopes are accessible and only 24 have been measured so far up to the mass A = 100. In this contribution, we report recent experiments which allowed the measurement of beta 1n emitters for masses beyond A > 200 and N > 1 2 6 and identified the heaviest beta 2n emitter measured so far, Sb-136.

Commissioning of the BRIKEN beta-delayed neutron detector for the study of exotic neutron-rich nuclei

Beta-delayed neutron emission (Beta-n) is a form of radioactive decay in which an electron, an anti-neutrino and one or more neutrons are emitted. This process arises if the energy window of the decay Q_Beta is greater than the neutron separation energy S n of the daughter. The probability in each decay of emitting neutrons is called the Pn value. This form of decay plays a key role in the synthesis of chemical elements in the Universe via the rapid neutron capture process, or r-process. The r-process proceeds far from the valley of nuclear stability, and leads to very neutron-rich nuclei that then decay to the line of stability. Most of these nuclei are sn emitters. The initial abundance distribution is shaped by the decay half-life T1/2, but the neutron emission affects the final abundances in two ways: on the one hand it shifts the decay path to lower masses and on the other hand it provides a source of neutrons for late captures that will shift it in the opposite way. Thus, a good knowledge of Pn and T1/2 values of the nuclei between the line of stability and the r-process path is needed for a correct understanding of the observed abundances. Besides the astrophysical interest, the measurement of new Pn values and half-lives is also useful for refining nuclear structure models, constraining parameters of the models and testing s-strength functions [3]. Our current understanding of the process of s-delayed multiple neutron emission, as well as the competition between different open channels (gamma, one-neutron, two-neutron, etc), is incomplete because of the scarcity of experimental data. With these ideas in mind, the BRIKEN (Beta-delayed-neutron-measurements at RIKEN) collaboration was established, with the aim of greatly improving the quantity and quality of data the decays of very neutron-rich nuclei close to the r-process path.

Uncovering Special Nuclear Materials by Low-energy Nuclear Reaction Imaging.

Weapons-grade uranium and plutonium could be used as nuclear explosives with extreme destructive potential. The problem of their detection, especially in standard cargo containers during transit, has been described as “searching for a needle in a haystack” because of the inherently low rate of spontaneous emission of characteristic penetrating radiation and the ease of its shielding. Currently, the only practical approach for uncovering well-shielded special nuclear materials is by use of active interrogation using an external radiation source. However, the similarity of these materials to shielding and the required radiation doses that may exceed regulatory limits prevent this method from being widely used in practice. We introduce a low-dose active detection technique, referred to as low-energy nuclear reaction imaging, which exploits the physics of interactions of multi-MeV monoenergetic photons and neutrons to simultaneously measure the material’s areal density and effective atomic number, while confirming the presence of fissionable materials by observing the beta-delayed neutron emission. For the first time, we demonstrate identification and imaging of uranium with this novel technique using a simple yet robust source, setting the stage for its wide adoption in security applications.

Beta-delayed fission probabilities of transfermium nuclei, involved in the r-process

For the nucleosynthesis of heavy and superheavy nuclei fission becomes very important when the r-process runs in a very high neutron density environment. In part, fission is responsible for the formation of heavy nuclei due to the inclusion of fission products as new seed nuclei (fission cycling). More than that, beta-delayed fission, along with spontaneous fission, is responsible in the late stages of the r-process for the suppression of superheavy element yields.For beta-delayed fission probability calculations a model description of the beta-strength- functions is required. Extended theoretical predictions for astro-physical applications were provided long ago, and new predictions also for superheavy nuclei with uptodate nuclear input are needed. For the further extension of data to heavier transactinides the models of strength- functions should be modified, taking into account more complicated level schemes. In our present calculations the strength-function model is based on the quasi-particle approximation of Finite Fermi Systems Theory.The probabilities of beta-delayed fission and beta-delayed neutron emission are calculated for some transfermium neutron-rich nuclei, and the influence of beta-delayed fission upon superheavy element formation is discussed.

Beta-delayed Neutron Emission: First Measurements in the Heavy Mass Region and Future Prospects

Beta-delayed neutrons play a key role in the formation of heavy elements in explosive stellar environments. The final r-process abundance distribution, including the rare-earth peak, is tailored to a large extent by the neutrons released after the beta decay of very exotic neutron-rich nuclei encountered along the r-process path and during the freeze-out phase. Such scenarios involve a vast amount of — yet undiscovered — nuclei, and most of them are expected to be neutron emitters. In this respect, existing beta-delayed neutron emission data is rather scarce, spanning from the lightest isotopes up to the region of the fission-fragments with masses up to A ∼ 150. This contribution gives an overview on the latest measurements of neutron branching ratios in the heavy mass region around N = 126, which was practically unexplored in the past. Present plans to access very exotic nuclei at the RIB-facility of RIKEN in the framework of the BRIKEN project, are presented, together with the expected impact in r-process nucleosynthesis studies.

Approaching the precursor nuclei of the third r-process peak with RIBs

The rapid neutron nucleosynthesis process involves an enormous amount of very exotic neutron-rich nuclei, which represent a theoretical and experimental challenge. Two of the main decay properties that affect the final abundance distribution the most are half-lives and neutron branching ratios. Using fragmentation of a primary 238U beam at GSI we were able to measure such properties for several neutron-rich nuclei from 208Hg to 218Pb. This contribution provides a short update on the status of the data analysis of this experiment, together with a compilation of the latest results published in this mass region, both experimental and theoretical. The impact of the uncertainties connected with the beta-decay rates and with beta-delayed neutron emission is illustrated on the basis of r-process network calculations. In order to obtain a reasonable reproduction of the third r-process peak, it is expected that both half-lives and neutron branching ratios are substantially smaller, than those based on FRDM+QRPA, commonly used in r-process model calculations. Further measurements around N ∼ 126 are required for a reliable modelling of the underlying nuclear structure, and for performing more realistic r-process abundance calculations.