Heavy Fragments Research Articles

Effect of isospin diffusion on the production of neutron-rich nuclei in multinucleon transfer reactions

The isospin dissipation dynamics in multinucleon transfer reactions has been investigated within the dinuclear system model. Production cross sections of neutron-rich isotopes around projectile-like and target-like fragments are estimated in collisions of $^{58,64}\mathrm{Ni}+^{208}\mathrm{Pb}$ and $^{78,86,91}\mathrm{Kr}+^{198}\mathrm{Pt}$ near Coulomb barrier energies. The isospin diffusion in the nucleon transfer process is coupled to the dissipation of relative motion energy and angular momentum of colliding system. The available data of projectile-like fragments via multinucleon transfer reactions are nicely reproduced. It is found that the light projectile-like fragments are produced in the neutron-rich region because of the isospin equilibrium in two colliding nuclei. However, the heavy target-like fragments tend to be formed on the neutron-poor side above the $\ensuremath{\beta}$-stability line. The neutron-rich projectiles move the maximal yields of heavy nuclei to the neutron-rich domain and are available for producing the heavy exotic isotopes, in particular around the neutron shell closure of $N=126$.

Decay of Plutonium isotopes via spontaneous and heavy-ion induced fission paths

Based on the collective clusterization approach, we have extended our earlier study on α-decay, exotic cluster-decay, and heavy particle radioactivity, to the phenomenon of spontaneous fission (SF) in the ground-state (g.s.) decays of even mass 234−246Pu parents. The calculations for the SF half-lives of these Pu-isotopes have been made within the framework of preformed cluster model (PCM), both for spherical as well as β2-deformed choices of shapes, and a comparison is made with the relevant available experimental data, which prefer spherical shapes. The importance of the orientation degree of freedom (hot compact or cold elongated configurations) is also explored. Next, in order to look for the exclusive role of heavy-ion induced fission, the dynamics of 6He + 238U reaction forming 244Pu⁎ is studied over the center of mass energy range of Ec.m.=15.0–28.8MeV, using the dynamical cluster-decay model (DCM), an extension of the PCM with temperature T- and angular momentum ℓ-effects included. The β2-deformed fragments of 244Pu⁎ in the mass range A2=106–113 (plus their complementary heavy fragments), corresponding to asymmetric fission peaks, are found contributing towards the fission cross-section. Finally, the potential energy surfaces and barrier modification effects are presented for the relative comparison of spontaneous and the heavy-ion induced fission processes. Both are found to behave similar with respect to the probable emission of fragments and hence point out to the shell closure property of the decay fragments.

Merging first principle structure studies and few-body reaction formalism

Calculations for nucleon knockout from a 7Li beam due to the collision with a proton target at 400 MeV/u are shown based on ab initio Quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) and conventional shell-model nuclear structure approaches to describe the relative motion between the knockout particle and the heavy fragment of the projectile. Structure effects on the total cross section are shown.

Angular distribution of scission neutrons studied with time-dependent Schrödinger equation

We investigate the angular distribution of scission neutrons taking account of the effects of fission fragments. The time evolution of the wave function of the scission neutron is obtained by integrating the time-dependent Schrodinger equation numerically. The effects of the fission fragments are taken into account by means of the optical potentials. The angular distribution is strongly modified by the presence of the fragments. In the case of asymmetric fission, it is found that the heavy fragment has stronger effects. Dependence on the initial distribution and on the properties of fission fragments is discussed. We also discuss on the treatment of the boundary to avoid artificial reflections

Parameterisation of the residual temperature distribution based on the modelling of successive emission of prompt neutrons

A new deterministic modelling taking into account the successive emission of prompt neutrons from initial fragments of a fragmentation range {A, Z, TKE} constructed as in the Point-by-Point (PbP) treatment is described. The good agreement of different prompt emission quantities obtained from this modelling (e.g. v(A), v(TKE), E-γ(A), E-γ(TKE), etc.) with the experimental data and the results of the PbP model and other Monte-Carlo models validates the present modelling of sequential emission. The distributions of different residual quantities, including the residual temperature distributions P(T) of light and heavy fragments allow to obtain a new parameterisation of P(T) which can be used in the PbP model and the Los Alamos model.

Impact of nuclear inertia momenta on fission observables

Fission is probably the nuclear process the less accurately described with current models because it involves dynamics of nuclear matter with strongly coupled manybody interactions. It is thus diffcult to find models that are strongly rooted in good physics, accurate enough to reproduce target observables and that can describe many of the nuclear fission observables in a consistent way. One of the most comprehensive current modeling of the fission process relies on the fission sampling and Monte-Carlo de-excitation of the fission fragments. This model is implemented for instance in the FIFRELIN code. In this model fission fragments and their state are first sampled from pre-neutron fission yields, angular momentum distribution and excitation energy repartition law then the decay of both initial fragments is simulated. This modeling provides many observables: prompt neutron and gamma fission spectra, multiplicities and also fine decompositions: number of neutrons emitted as a function of the fragment mass, spectra per fragments, etc. This model relies on nuclear structure databases and on several basic nuclear models describing for instance gamma strength functions or level densities. Additionally some free parameters are still to be determined, namely two parameters describing the excitation energy repartition law, the spin cutoff of the heavy and light fragments and a rescaling parameter for the rotational inertia momentum of the fragments with respect of the rigid-body model. In the present work we investigate the impact of this latter parameter. For this we mainly substitute the corrected rigid-body value by a quantity obtained from a microscopic description of the fission fragment. The independent-particle model recently implemented in the CONRAD code is used to provide nucleonic wave functions that are required to compute inertia momenta with an Inglis-Belyaev cranking model. The impact of this substitution is analyzed on different fission observables provided by the FIFRELIN code.

Conformational control over an aldehyde fragment by selective vibrational excitation of interchangeable remote antennas.

We apply interchangeable vibrational antennas (OH or NH2 group) to achieve unprecedented conformational control over the heavy aldehyde fragment in 2-formyl-2H-azirine. The two aldehyde conformers were manipulated bi-directionally, using selective vibrational excitation with narrowband near-infrared (NIR) light tuned at the wavenumbers corresponding to OH and NH2 stretching overtones and combination modes.

Impact of FIFRELIN input parameters on fission observables

Evaluated nuclear data are essential for nuclear reactor studies. In order to significantly improve the precision of nuclear data, more and more fundamental fission models are used in the evaluation processing. Therefore, tests of fission models become a central issue. In this framework, FIFRELIN (FIssion Fragments Evaporation Leading to an Investigation of Nuclear data) is a Monte Carlo code developed in order to modelize fission fragments de-excitation through the emission of neutrons, γ and conversion e-. To be performed, a FIFRELIN calculation relies on several models such as gamma strength function and nuclear level density and of more empirical hypothesis such as total excitation energy repartition or angular momentum given by the fission reaction. Moreover, pre-emission mass yield and kinetic energy distribution per mass are necessary to process the simulation. A set of five free parameters are chosen to reproduce a target observable. Often this observable corresponds to the mean neutron multiplicity for heavy and light fragment. In this work, the impact of the set of parameters on different output observables (neutron emission probability, neutron multiplicity as function of the fission fragment mass) is investigated.

Fission observables from 4D Langevin calculations with macroscopic transport coefficients

We have extended the Langevin equations to 4 dimensions (4D) by allowing the independent deformation for the left (δ1) and right fragments (δ2) of the fissioning nucleus. At the moment we are only able to use them in conjunction with the macroscopic transport coefficients. Nevertheless, we can see a considerable improvement in the preliminary results for the fission observables, especially those related to the total kinetic energy (TKE) of fission fragments. By plotting the TKE distributions we have revealed the super-long fission modes in236U and super-short fission modes in257Fm. By plotting the distribution ofδagainst the fragment’s TKE we have noted a correlation between the values ofδand Brosa’s fission modes. We have found that the standard fission modes correspond to prolate tips of the light fragments while the complementary heavy fragments have oblate fission tips. On the other hand, if both fragments were prolate at the tips, we get super-long fission modes. If both fragments were oblate at the tips, we get super-short fission modes.

Influence of primary fragment excitation energy and spin distributions on fission observables

Fission observables in the case of 252Cf(sf) are investigated by exploring several models involved in the excitation energy sharing and spin-parity assignment between primary fission fragments. In a first step the parameters used in the FIFRELIN Monte Carlo code “reference route" are presented: two parameters for the mass dependent temperature ratio law and two constant spin cut-off parameters for light and heavy fragment groups respectively. These parameters determine the initial fragment entry zone in excitation energy and spin-parity (E*, Jπ). They are chosen to reproduce the light and heavy average prompt neutron multiplicities. When these target observables are achieved all other fission observables can be predicted. We show here the influence of input parameters on the saw-tooth curve and we discuss the influence of a mass and energy-dependent spin cut-off model on gamma-rays related fission observables. The part of the model involving level densities, neutron transmission coefficients or photon strength functions remains unchanged.

Multinucleon transfer dynamics in heavy-ion collisions near Coulomb-barrier energies

The multinucleon transfer reactions near barrier energies has been investigated with a multistep model based on the dinuclear system (DNS) concept, in which the capture of two colliding nuclei, the transfer dynamics and the de-excitation process of primary fragments are described by the analytical formula, the diffusion theory and the statistical model, respectively. The nucleon transfer takes place after forming the DNS and is coupled to the dissipation of relative motion energy and angular momentum by solving a set of microscopically derived master equations within the potential energy surface. Specific reactions of $^{40,48}$Ca+$^{124}$Sn, $^{40}$Ca ($^{40}$Ar, $^{58}$Ni)+$^{232}$Th, $^{40}$Ca ($^{58}$Ni)+$^{238}$U and $^{40,48}$Ca ($^{58}$Ni) +$^{248}$Cm near barrier energies are investigated. It is found that the fragments are produced by the multinucleon transfer reactions with the maximal yields along the $\beta$-stability line. The isospin relaxation is particularly significant in the process of fragment formation. The incident energy dependence of heavy target-like fragments in the reaction of $^{58}$Ni+$^{248}$Cm is analyzed thoroughly.

Inverse quasifission in the reactions Gd156,160+W186

Background: Low-energy multinucleon transfer reactions may be used for production of new neutron-enriched heavy nuclei.Purpose: Our aim is to investigate the influence of proton ($Z=82$) and neutron ($N=82$, 126) shells as well as orientation effects on the formation of reaction products in the inverse quasifission process in the reactions $^{156,160}\mathrm{Gd}+^{186}\mathrm{W}$.Methods: Mass, energy, and angular distributions of primary binary fragments formed in the reactions $^{156}\mathrm{Gd}+^{186}\mathrm{W}$ at an energy of 878 MeV, and $^{160}\mathrm{Gd}+^{186}\mathrm{W}$ at 860 and 935 MeV, have been measured using the double-arm time-of-flight spectrometer CORSET at the U400 cyclotron of the Flerov Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions (FLNR) at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR), Dubna.Results: Enhancement in the yield of products with masses 200--215 u has been found for both reactions. The cross sections of the formation of trans-target fragments with masses around 208 u are found to be about 10 \ensuremath{\mu}b at the Coulomb barrier energy and reach the level of 0.5 mb at the energy above the barrier for side-to-side collision.Conclusions: The enhanced yield of products with masses heavier than the target mass confirms the important role of the closed shells at $Z=82$ and $N=82$, 126 in the inverse quasifission process in low-energy damped collisions. The orientation effect caused by the strong deformation of colliding nuclei can result in a gain in the yield of heavy target-like fragments.

Four-dimensional Langevin approach to low-energy nuclear fission of U236

We developed a four-dimensional Langevin model which can treat the deformation of each fragment independently and applied it to low energy fission of 236U, the compound system of the reaction n+$^{235}$U. The potential energy is calculated with the deformed two-centerWoods-Saxon (TCWS) and the Nilsson type potential with the microscopic energy corrections following the Strutinsky method and BCS pairing. The transport coefficients are calculated by macroscopic prescriptions. It turned out that the deformation for the light and heavy fragments behaves differently, showing a sawtooth structure similar to that of the neutron multiplicities of the individual fragments $\nu$(A). Furthermore, the measured total kinetic energy TKE(A) and its standard deviation are reproduced fairly well by the 4D Langevin model based on the TCWS potential in addition to the fission fragment mass distributions. The developed model allows a multi-parametric correlation analysis among, e.g., the three key fission observables, mass, TKE, and neutron multiplicity, which should be essential to elucidate several long-standing open problems in fission such as the sharing of the excitation energy between the fragments.

Visualizing and Steering Dissociative Frustrated Double Ionization of Hydrogen Molecules.

We experimentally visualize the dissociative frustrated double ionization of hydrogen molecules by using few-cycle laser pulses in a pump-probe scheme, in which process the tunneling ionized electron is recaptured by one of the outgoing nuclei of the breaking molecule. Three internuclear distances are recognized to enhance the dissociative frustrated double ionization of molecules at different instants after the first ionization step. The recapture of the electron can be further steered to one of the outgoing nuclei as desired by using phase-controlled two-color laser pulses. Both the experimental measurements and numerical simulations suggest that the Rydberg atom is favored to emit to the direction of the maximum of the asymmetric optical field. Our results on the one hand intuitively visualize the dissociative frustrated double ionization of molecules, and on the other hand open the possibility to selectively excite the heavy fragment ejected from a molecule.

Systematic Analysis of Fission Fragment Mass Distribution and TKE for Actinides by Langevin Equation

Dynamical description of fission by Langevin equations is carried out for several actinides to see systematical trends in fission fragment mass and kinetic energy distributions. The transport coefficients are calculated by both macroscopic and microscopic theories. The light and heavy scission fragment mass average <AL> and <AH> are compared with the original Flynn’s <AL> and <AH>. We also find a reasonable agreement of our calculated <AL> and <AH> with the corresponding averages from evaluated data of JENDL’s 14 MeV incident neutron fission product yield. We compare the calculated total kinetic energy of the fission fragment with Viola’s systematics. Good agreements are also seen for the actinides under study in comparison with total kinetic energy from JENDL. Effects of the microscopic transport coefficients on these systematical trends are discussed.

The charge polarization and its impact on prompt fission neutron multiplicity

Prompt neutrons emitted from fission fragments of actinides show a specific induced-energy dependence. The mass distribution of prompt neutrons emitted from light fragments are independent of induced energies, while the number of prompt neutrons originating from heavy fragments increases with increasing induced energy. The understanding of the mechanism of this behavior has been a long standing problem, and cannot be solved unless we assume very artificial conditions such as fragment-mass dependent temperatures. Therefore, the neutron multiplicity has been used as fitted information in major models for prompt neutron spectra. In this paper, we evaluate the prompt neutron multiplicity as a function of the fission-fragment product of the n-induced fission of U-235 based on the fission configuration derived from the Langevin equation. We found that the charge polarization, which is the deviation from the unchanged charge distribution (UCD) assumption, can directly produce the specific induced-energy dependence of prompt neutrons without extra assumptions.

Spontaneous fission and competing ground state decay modes of actinide and transactinide nuclei

Based on the preformed cluster model, we have carried out a comprehensive theoretical study on the decay paths of ground state actinide and transactinide nuclei, specifically from $^{232}\mathrm{U}$ to $^{264}\mathrm{Hs}$ exhibiting the phenomenon of spontaneous fission (SF). This is an extension of our earlier studies on $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ decay, exotic cluster emission, and heavy particle radioactivity, where an effort is made to identify the most probable fragments in the SF process. These observations in turn, could provide a testing ground for future SF half-life measurements. To obtain a clear picture of the dynamics involved, the variations of fragmentation potential, preformation factor, and decay barrier height have been examined. The calculated potential energy surfaces show a change from a predominantly asymmetric fission to a symmetric fragmentation with the increase in the N/Z ratio of parent nuclei. In addition, an exclusive analysis of SF with $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ and other possible cluster emissions for the $^{232,234,236,238}\mathrm{U}$ parents was made to have better insight of nuclear structure information. In other words, the comparative nature of $\ensuremath{\alpha}$, cluster, heavy fragment, and SF decay paths is analyzed in view of shell closure property of the decay fragments. Interestingly, the calculated decay half-lives for the $^{82}\mathrm{Ge}$ heavy cluster are in fact shown to lie within the limits of experiments, thereby presenting themselves as exciting new possibilities which may be validated via future experiments.

Pre-scission model predictions of fission fragment mass distributions for super-heavy elements

The total deformation energy just before the moment of neck rupture for the heaviest nuclei for which spontaneous fission has been detected (Ds279–281, Rg281 and Cn282–284) is calculated. The Strutinsky's prescription is used and nuclear shapes just before scission are described in terms of Cassinian ovals defined for the fixed value of elongation parameter α=0.98 and generalized by the inclusion of four additional shape parameters: α1, α3, α4, and α6. Supposing that the probability of each point in the deformation space is given by Boltzmann factor, the distribution of the fission-fragment masses is estimated. The octupole deformation α3 at scission is found to play a decisive role in determining the main feature of the mass distribution: symmetric or asymmetric. Only the inclusion of α3 leads to an asymmetric division. Finally, the calculations are extended to an unexplored region of super-heavy nuclei: the even–even Fl (Z=114), Lv (Z=116), Og (Z=118) and (Z=126) isotopes. For these nuclei, the most probable mass of the light fragment has an almost constant value (≈136) like in the case of the most probable mass of the heavy fragment in the actinide region. It is the neutron shell at 82 that makes this light fragment so stable. Naturally, for very neutron-deficient isotopes, the mass division becomes symmetric when N=2×82.

Tagging fast neutrons from a 252Cf fission-fragment source

Coincidence and time-of-flight measurement techniques are employed to tag fission neutrons emitted from a 252Cf source sealed on one side with a very thin layer of Au. The source is positioned within a gaseous 4He scintillator detector. Together with α particles, both light and heavy fission fragments pass through the thin layer of Au and are detected. The fragments enable the corresponding fission neutrons, which are detected in a NE-213 liquid-scintillator detector, to be tagged. The resulting continuous polychromatic beam of tagged neutrons has an energy dependence that agrees qualitatively with expectations. We anticipate that this technique will provide a cost-effective means for the characterization of neutron-detector efficiency in the energy range 1–6MeV.

Fragments mass and charge distribution in the light particle accompanied fission of 252Cf

The ternary fission mass and charge distribution of 252Cf for different light third fragments (A3 = 4He, 10Be, 14C, 20O, 20Ne and 24Ne) are studied with the use of statistical theory of fission. Two different approaches are adopted to generate the possible ternary fragment combinations: in one case, the Z/A of the products is the same as 252Cf, in the other the finite-range droplet model (FRDM) data are used, creating all the possible combinations also with different Z/A. For the calculation of the nuclear level densities, single-particle level energies of FRDM are also used. When the lighter fragment A3 is 4He, our calculated mass and charge distribution results, at T = 1 MeV, show the larger yield for the deformed fragment combinations which is in line with the experimental observation. Interestingly, for various third fragments, our calculated results at T = 2 MeV indicate that the favorable ternary configuration contains closed shell nucleus either Pb or Sn as the heaviest fragment. In addition, we have compared our calculated ternary isotopic yields with the available experimental and theoretical data.