Mass Energy Distributions Research Articles

Supermassive Black Hole Winds in X-rays -- SUBWAYS. III. A population study on ultra-fast outflows

The detection of blueshifted absorption lines likely associated with ionized iron K-shell transitions in the X-ray spectra of many active galactic nuclei (AGNs) suggests the presence of a highly ionized gas outflowing with mildly relativistic velocities (0.03c - 0.6c) named ultra-fast outflow (UFO). Within the SUBWAYS project, we characterized these winds starting from a sample of 22 radio-quiet quasars at an intermediate redshift (0.1 leq z leq 0.4) and compared the results with similar studies in the literature on samples of local Seyfert galaxies (i.e., 42 radio-quiet AGNs observed with XMM-Newton at z leq 0.1) and high redshift radio-quiet quasars (i.e., 14 AGNs observed with XMM-Newton and Chandra at z geq 1.4). The scope of our work is a statistical study of UFO parameters and incidence considering the key physical properties of the sources, such as supermassive black hole (SMBH) mass, bolometric luminosity, accretion rates, and spectral energy distribution (SED) with the aim of gaining new insights into the UFO launching mechanisms. We find indications that highly luminous AGNs with a steeper X-ray/UV ratio, $ ox $, are more likely to host UFOs. The presence of UFOs is not significantly related to any other AGN property in our sample. These findings suggest that the UFO phenomenon may be transient. Focusing on AGNs with UFOs, other important findings from this work include: (1) faster UFOs have larger ionization parameters and column densities; (2) X-ray radiation plays a more crucial role in driving highly ionized winds compared to UV; (3) the correlation between outflow velocity and luminosity is significantly flatter than what is expected for radiatively driven winds; (4) more massive black holes experience higher wind mass losses, suppressing the accretion of matter onto the black hole; (5) the UFO launching radius is positively correlated with the Eddington ratio. Furthermore, our analysis suggests the involvement of multiple launching mechanisms, including radiation pressure and magneto-hydrodynamic processes, rather than pointing to a single, universally applicable mechanism.

Connection of four-dimensional Langevin model and Hauser-Feshbach theory to describe statistical decay of fission fragments

ABSTRACT We have developed a novel theoretical method to obtain independent fission product yields and prompt neutron observables by connecting mass and total kinetic energy (TKE) distributions calculated by a four-dimensional Langevin dynamical model to a Hauser-Feshbach statistical decay model. In the Langevin calculations, mass distributions corresponding to the standard I and II modes were obtained separately and superposed to reproduce the fission fragment yield of spontaneous fission of 238 , 240 , 242 Pu and thermal neutron-induced fission of 239 Pu . This was achieved by using different neck parameters for these two modes in the two-center shell model shape parametrization, and a systematics of the superposing ratio was obtained as a function of N − Z / A of the fissioning nuclei. The Hauser-Feshbach calculations were performed using a nuclear reaction code TALYS for 239 Pu n , f reaction in the incident energy range from thermal up to 5 MeV , and the calculated prompt fission observables were compared with experimental and evaluated data. Although further improvements are needed for the most important nuclides, it turned out that the present methodology has the capability to prepare fission-related nuclear data for nuclides for which measurements are difficult.

Fission fragment mass distribution of 187Ir

The fission fragment mass and total kinetic energy (TKE) distributions were studied for 187Ir populated using 12C + 175Lu reaction at excitation energies 24.8, 23.3, 20.8, and 16.7 MeV above the saddle point. Fission fragments (FF) were detected using position sensitive MWPC’s kept at a folding angle. The mass of the fragment was calculated using Time-of-Flight (TOF) difference method. The multi Gaussian fit to the extracted mass distributions shows the presence of narrower microscopic components corresponding to Z = 38 and 45 in addition to the liquid drop component at lower excitation energies. The GEF model predicts significant asymmetric components at all the measured energies. The TKE distribution investigations suggest the dominance of macroscopic liquid drop components at all energies.

The energy distribution of the first supernovae

ABSTRACT The nature of the first Pop III stars is still a mystery and the energy distribution of the first supernovae is completely unexplored. For the first time we account simultaneously for the unknown initial mass function (IMF), stellar mixing, and energy distribution function (EDF) of Pop III stars in the context of a cosmological model for the formation of a MW-analogue. Our data-calibrated semi-analytic model is based on a N-body simulation and follows the formation and evolution of both Pop III and Pop II/I stars in their proper time-scales. We discover degeneracies between the adopted Pop III unknowns, in the predicted metallicity and carbonicity distribution functions and the fraction of C-enhanced stars. None the less, we are able to provide the first available constraints on the EDF, $dN/dE_\star \propto E_{\star }^{-\alpha _e}$ with 1 ≤ αe ≤ 2.5. In addition, the characteristic mass of the Pop III IMF should be mch < 100 M⊙, assuming a mass range consistent with hydrodynamical simulations (0.1–1000 M⊙). Independent of the assumed Pop III properties, we find that all $\rm [C/Fe]\gt +0.7$ stars (with $\rm [Fe/H]\lt -2.8$) have been enriched by Pop III supernovae at a $\gt 20~{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ level, and all $\rm [C/Fe]\gt +2$ stars at a $\gt 95~{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ level. All very metal-poor stars with $\rm [C/Fe]\lt 0$ are predicted to be predominantly enriched by Pop III hypernovae and/or pair instability supernovae. To better constrain the primordial EDF, it is absolutely crucial to have a complete and accurate determination of the metallicity distribution function, and the properties of C-enhanced metal-poor stars (frequency and [C/Fe]) in the Galactic halo.

Charged Ice Particle Beams with Selected Narrow Mass and Kinetic Energy Distributions.

Small ice particles play an important role in atmospheric and extraterrestrial chemistry. Circumplanetary ice particles that are encountered by space probes at hypervelocities play a critical role in the determination of surface and subsurface properties of their source bodies. Here we present an apparatus for the generation of low-intensity beams of single mass-selected charged ice particles under vacuum. They are produced via electrospray ionization of water at atmospheric pressure and undergo evaporative cooling when transferred to vacuum through an atmospheric vacuum interface. m/z selection is achieved through two subsequent quadrupole mass filters operated in the variable-frequency mode within a range of m/z values between 8 × 104 and 3 × 107. Velocity and charge of the selected particles are measured using a nondestructive single-pass image charge detector. From the known electrostatic acceleration potentials and settings of the quadrupoles the particle masses could be obtained and be accurately controlled. It has been shown that the droplets are frozen within the transit time of the apparatus such that ice particles are present after the quadrupole stages and finally detected. The demonstrated correspondence between particle mass and specific quadrupole potentials in this device allows preparation of beams of single particles with a repetition rate between 0.1 and 1 Hz with various diameter distributions from 50 to 1000 nm at 30-250 eV of kinetic energy per charge. This corresponds to velocities and particle masses quickly available between 600 m/s (80 nm) and 50 m/s (900 nm) and particle charge numbers (positive) between 103 and 104[e], depending upon size.

Experimental Study of Mass–Energy Distribution of Fragments Produced in the $${}^{{90}}\text{Zr}+{}^{{90}}$$Zr Reaction Leading to the Formation of $${}^{{180}}$$Hg at Energies near the Coulomb Barrier

Experimental Study of Mass–Energy Distribution of Fragments Produced in the $${}^{{90}}\text{Zr}+{}^{{90}}$$Zr Reaction Leading to the Formation of $${}^{{180}}$$Hg at Energies near the Coulomb Barrier

Influence of pre-scission neutron emission on high-energy U238 fission studied by the Langevin approach

Background: The information about the pre-scission emitted neutrons is crucial for the fission dynamics study such as fission time scale and dissipation mechanism. Purpose: The aim is to investigate the influence of the pre-scission neutron emission on the fragments mass, total kinetic energy, and the deformation distribution at the scission point in $^{238}\mathrm{U}(n,f)$ fissions at 110, 325, and 500 MeV. Method: A three-dimensional Langevin approach considering nucleus elongation, deformation, and mass asymmetry is applied to simulate fission dynamics. The Hauser-Feshbach statistical decay model is coupled to simulate the pre-scission neutron emission. Results: The properties of the pre-scission emitted neutron are first investigated. It is found that the multiplicity and the average kinetic energy increase with increasing excitation energy. The energy carried away by neutron emission is not negligible and it leads to the multichance fission, especially for the 110 MeV case. The fragments mass, total kinetic energy, and the deformation distribution at the scission point are then calculated with and without coupling the Hauser-Feshbach statistical decay model. It is found that the calculations partially reproduce the leftward shift of the experimental fragment mass distribution at high excitation energy. The pre-scission neutron emission also causes a reduction of the average total kinetic energy by about 2 MeV and a leftward shift of the distribution. The deformation distribution shows that about 75% of the fragments are produced in spherical and prolate ellipsoid shapes. No significant influence on deformation at the scission point was found. Conclusions: For high-energy fission, the energy reduction by pre-scission neutron emission should be considered, which will lead to the multichance fission. The pre-scission neutron emission is one of the reasons for the decrease of the average mass and the leftward shift of the fission fragments mass and total kinetic energy distribution.

Hg178 and asymmetric fission of neutron-deficient pre-actinides

Fission at low excitation energy is an ideal playground to probe the impact of nuclear structure on nuclear dynamics. While the importance of structural effects in the nascent fragments is well-established in the (trans-)actinide region, the observation of asymmetric fission in several neutron-deficient pre-actinides can be explained by various mechanisms. To deepen our insight into that puzzle, an innovative approach based on inverse kinematics and an enhanced version of the VAMOS++ heavy-ion spectrometer was implemented at the GANIL facility, Caen. Fission of $^{178}$Hg was induced by fusion of $^{124}$Xe and $^{54}$Fe. The two fragments were detected in coincidence using VAMOS++ supplemented with a new SEcond Detection arm. For the first time in the pre-actinide region, access to the pre-neutron mass and total kinetic energy distributions, and the simultaneous isotopic identification of one the fission fragment, was achieved. The present work describes the experimental approach, and discusses the pre-neutron observables in the context of an extended asymmetric-fission island located south-west of $^{208}Pb. A comparison with different models is performed, demonstrating the importance of this "new" asymmetric-fission island for elaborating on driving effects in fission.

Measurement of mass and total kinetic energy distributions for the C12+Lu175 system

Fission fragment mass and total kinetic energy (TKE) distributions were measured for $^{12}\mathrm{C}+^{175}\mathrm{Lu}$ system at excitation energies down to 16.7 MeV above the saddle point. The overall mass and TKE distributions could be fitted with single Gaussian functions. The observed width of the mass and TKE distributions agree well with the systematics based on liquid drop (LD) behavior. The average TKE also shows parabolic dependence on fragment mass, as expected from LD behavior. Small contributions due to microscopic corrections from $Z\ensuremath{\approx}38$ and 45 shells can be extracted, if the widths of the LD component are fixed from systematics. Contrary to the theoretical predictions of substantial contributions from microscopic corrections, dominance of liquid drop behavior was observed.

On local conservation of information content in Schwarzschild black holes

The central equations in classical general relativity are the Einstein Field equations, which accurately describe not only the generation of pseudo-Riemannian curvature by matter and radiation manifesting as gravitational effects, but more importantly mass-energy dynamics, evolution and distribution on the space-time manifold. Herein, we introduce a geometric phase in general relativity corresponding to Schwarzschild black hole information content. This quantity appropriately satisfies a local conservation law subject to minimal coupling, with other desirable properties such as the quantization of the black hole horizon in units of Planck area. The local conservation law is imposed by field equations, which not only contain the trace of Einstein Field equations, but also a complex-valued function with properties analogous to the quantum-mechanical wave function. Such success attests to the utility of the proposed field equations in capturing key aspects of quantum gravity theories.

Experimental study of fast fission and quasifission in the Ca40+Pb208 reaction leading to the formation of the transfermium nucleus No248

Background: The stability of the transfermium nucleus against fission is mainly determined by the shell correction depending on its angular momentum and excitation energy.Purpose: The study of the fast fission process of the transfermium nucleus $^{248}\mathrm{No}$ and its dependence on the interaction energy and introduced angular momentum.Methods: Mass-energy distributions of the $^{248}\mathrm{No}$ fission fragments formed in the $^{40}\mathrm{Ca}$ + $^{208}\mathrm{Pb}$ reaction at energies above the Coulomb barrier have been measured using the double-arm time-of-flight spectrometer CORSET at the $^{40}\mathrm{Ca}$-beam energies of 223, 250, and 284 MeV.Results: The contribution of the fast fission process is determined from the calculations of the driving potential, taking into account shell effects and rotational energy and amounts to 39% and 61% at 250 and 284 MeV, respectively. The mass-energy distributions of the quasifission and fast fission fragments have been extracted by subtracting the mass-energy matrices associated with compound nucleus fission from those of all measured fissionlike events. The asymmetric fragments with masses 97 and 151 u were found to be the most probable in the fast fission of $^{248}\mathrm{No}$. With increasing $^{40}\mathrm{Ca}$ energy from 250 to 284 MeV the mass distributions of the fast fission fragments change slightly.Conclusions: Contrary to quasifission in which the fragments are focused mainly around the closed neutron or proton shells, the influence of known proton or neutron shells on the asymmetric mass distribution in the fast fission process was not observed.

Quasifission in Kr84,86 -induced reactions populating superheavy elements

Background: Quasifission plays a detrimental role in the synthesis of superheavy elements. Understanding the dynamics of quasifission helps in selecting the optimum target projectile combinations for the synthesis of new superheavy elements.Purpose: The influence of various entrance channel parameters on the quasifission dynamics was explored. Three reactions, $^{84}\mathrm{Kr}+^{198}\mathrm{Pt}$, $^{86}\mathrm{Kr}+^{198}\mathrm{Pt}$, and $^{86}\mathrm{Kr}+^{197}\mathrm{Au}$, expected to be dominated by quasifission, were studied near the Coulomb barrier energies.Methods: The binary fission fragments from the three reactions were detected using the double arm time-of-flight spectrometer CORSET. The mass and total kinetic energy distributions, which are sensitive to the quasifission dynamics, were measured and analyzed for the three reactions.Results: The mass and total kinetic energy distributions of all the three reactions have the characteristics that show the dominance of quasifission. For the reaction $^{84}\mathrm{Kr}+^{198}\mathrm{Pt}$, symmetric quasifission has been found to be relatively more dominant compared to $^{86}\mathrm{Kr}+^{198}\mathrm{Pt}$ reaction. The results have been compared with $^{48}\mathrm{Ca}$- and $^{52}\mathrm{Cr}$-induced reactions, populating nearby nuclei, to understand the evolution of quasifission. An analysis of the timescales in these reactions using a dynamical calculation shows that $^{84}\mathrm{Kr}+^{198}\mathrm{Pt}$ takes a longer time to reach a particular dinuclear shape compared to the other two reactions. The driving potential at the barrier radius also shows a shallower pocket for $^{84}\mathrm{Kr}+^{198}\mathrm{Pt}$ compared to $^{86}\mathrm{Kr}+^{198}\mathrm{Pt}$ and $^{86}\mathrm{Kr}+^{197}\mathrm{Au}$ reactions.Conclusion: The entrance channel isospin difference is found to influence the quasifission dynamics. A higher entrance channel isospin difference may have a larger evolution time, thus driving the systems toward a more symmetric mass split.

Fission of Hg*180,182,183 and Pt*178 nuclei at intermediate excitation energies

Background: The nature of asymmetric fission of preactinides is not yet understood in detail, despite intense experimental and theoretical studies carried out at present.Purpose: The study of asymmetric and symmetric fission of $^{180,182,183}\mathrm{Hg}$ and $^{178}\mathrm{Pt}$ nuclei as a function of their excitation energy and isospin.Methods: Mass-energy distributions of fission fragments of $^{180}\mathrm{Hg}, ^{178}\mathrm{Pt}$ (two protons less than $^{180}\mathrm{Hg}$), and $^{182}\mathrm{Hg}$ (two neutrons more than $^{180}\mathrm{Hg}$) formed in the $^{36}\mathrm{Ar}+^{144}\mathrm{Sm}, ^{142}\mathrm{Nd}$, and $^{40}\mathrm{Ca}+^{142}\mathrm{Nd}$ reactions were measured at energies near and above the Coulomb barrier. Fission of $^{183}\mathrm{Hg}$ obtained in the reaction of $^{40}\mathrm{Ca}$ with $^{143}\mathrm{Nd}$ was also investigated to see if one extra neutron could lead to dramatic changes in the fission process due to the shape-staggering effect in radii, known in $^{183}\mathrm{Hg}$.The measurements were performed with the double-arm time-of-flight spectrometer CORSET.Results: The observed peculiarities in the fission fragment mass-energy distributions for all studied nuclei may be explained by the presence of a symmetric fission mode and three asymmetric fission modes, manifested by the different total kinetic energies and fragment mass splits. The yield of symmetric mode grows with increasing excitation energy of compound nucleus.Conclusions: The investigated properties of asymmetric fission of $^{180,182,183}\mathrm{Hg}$ and $^{178}\mathrm{Pt}$ nuclei point out the existence of well-deformed proton shell at $Z\ensuremath{\approx}36$ and a less deformed proton shell at $Z$ \ensuremath{\approx} 46.

Four Kinds of Potential Mass-Energy Space-Time Distribution Unified by a Dynamical Approach

The unification of gravity and electricity since the early 20th century and the unification of four fundamental forces since the 1970s have become a mainstream of physical study by using different theories and methods. This paper introduces a dynamical approach to respectively reveal the physical natures of gravity and electricity as well as strong and weak forces. The results showed that the nature of gravity is a dynamical product of mass-energy linear distributions between two adjacent objects and the nature of electricity is a dynamical product of mass-energy linear distributions between two adjacent unlike charges. Potential nuclear energies are mathematically shown by the products of mass-energy linear distributions between proton-neutron particles as well as hadron-lepton particles, which are also initially generated through external perpendicular forces with the maximum efficiency. Thus, four kinds of potential mass-energy space-time distribution rather than four long- and short-range forces showed a common mathematical expression or similarity among them by using this approach.

Monte-Carlo study of pre-neutron emission mass and energy for neutron-induced <sup>232</sup>Th fission

The development of fourth-generation reactors and advanced nuclear energy systems require high-precision, multi-nuclide, and wide-energy-area neutron nuclear data. However, the current nuclear energy-related nuclear fission data in the China Nuclear Data Evaluation Library (CENDL library) are incomplete and cannot meet the current need. It is extremely important to establish the reliable calculation methods and tools for the neutron nuclear data. Based on the Monte-Carlo method, a model for calculating the pre-neutron fission fragment is established in this work. The mass and kinetic energy distribution of <sup>232</sup>Th(n,f) reaction at the medium- and low- incident neutron energy are studied. The calculations of the mass distribution with the different values of incident energy are compared with the experimental results. The maximum deviation of this work from the experimental data is ~1%, which is advantageous compared with the GEF and TALYS code (maximum deviation from the experimental value is ~2%). The calculation of the pre-neutron fission fragment kinetic energy also shows good agreement with experimental result. The results indicate that this model can well describe and predict the characteristics of pre-neutron fission fragment for <sup>232</sup>Th(n,f) reaction at the medium- and low- incident neutron energy. It also provides a new idea for calculating the neutron-induced actinide fission reactions.

Investigating Mass–Energy Distributions of Fragments Produced in the 32S + 232Th → 264Sg Reaction at Energies Below and Near the Coulomb Barrier

Investigating Mass–Energy Distributions of Fragments Produced in the 32S + 232Th → 264Sg Reaction at Energies Below and Near the Coulomb Barrier

Evidence of quasifission in the 180Hg composite system formed in the 68Zn + 112Sn reaction

For the 68Zn + 112Sn reaction the Coulomb parameter Z1Z2 is equal to 1500 that is close to the threshold value for the appearance of quasifission process. It was found that mass-energy distributions of the reaction fragments differ significantly from those obtained in the 36Ar + 144Sm reaction leading to the formation of the same composite system of 180Hg at similar excitation energies of about 50 MeV. In the case of the reaction with 68Zn ions, the mass distribution of fissionlike fragments has a wide two-humped shape with maximum yields at 70 and 110 u for the light and heavy fragments, respectively, instead of 80 and 100 u observed in the fission of 180Hg formed in the 36Ar + 144Sm reaction. The difference is explained by an unexpectedly large contribution (more than 70%) of quasifission in the case of the 68Zn + 112Sn reaction.

Investigation of fusion probabilities in the reactions with Cr52,54, Ni64 , and Zn68 ions leading to the formation of Z=120 superheavy composite systems

Background: The formation of superheavy nuclei in fusion reactions is suppressed by a competing quasifission process. The competition between the formation of the compound nucleus and the quasifission depends strongly on the reaction entrance channel. Purpose: The investigation of fission and quasifission processes in the formation of Z=120 superheavy composite systems in the Cr52,54+Cm248 and Zn68+Th232 reactions, and their comparison with the Ni64+U238 reaction at energies in the vicinity of the Coulomb barrier. Methods: Mass-energy distributions of fissionlike fragments formed in the reactions Cr52,54+Cm248 and Zn68+Th232 at energies near the Coulomb barrier were measured using the double-arm time-of-flight spectrometer CORSET. Results: Capture cross sections for the reactions under investigation were measured. The most probable fragment masses and total kinetic energies as well as their variances in dependence on the interaction energy were studied for asymmetric and symmetric fragments. The fusion probabilities were estimated from the analysis of mass-energy distributions. Conclusions: The estimated fusion probability drops down by a factor of 103 in the Cr54+Cm248 reaction compared to the reactions of Ca48 ions with actinides. Among the studied reactions, the Cr54+Cm248 is the most favorable one for the production of the superheavy element with Z=120.1 MoreReceived 3 August 2020Accepted 2 September 2020DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.102.044605©2020 American Physical SocietyPhysics Subject Headings (PhySH)Research AreasFissionLow & intermediate energy heavy-ion reactionsNuclear fusionPropertiesA ≥ 220Nuclear Physics

Study of Mass-Asymmetric Fission of 180,190Hg Formed in the 36Ar + 144,154Sm Reactions

t—The mass–energy distributions of fission fragments of excited 180,190Hg nuclei formed in 36Ar + 144,154Sm reactions are measured at incident 36Ar energies of 158, 181, and 222 MeV using the double-arm time-of-flight spectrometer CORSET. The asymmetric fission of 180,190Hg with the most probable masses of light and heavy fragments of 79 and 101 amu, and 84 and 106 amu, respectively, is observed in mass distributions of 180,190Hg at energies of excitation of up to 75 MeV. Two components manifesting the symmetric and asymmetric fission modes are observed in the kinetic energy distributions.

Fission and Quasi-Fission in Reactions with Deformed Nuclei

The mass-energy distributions of fragments formed in reactions 16,18O + 232Th, 238U, and 22Ne + 232Th, 238U at energies near the Coulomb barrier are measured to study the role of multimodal fission in the reactions of light ions with strongly deformed actinide nuclei. It is found that at these energies, multimodal fission affects significantly the mass–energy and angular distributions of fragments that results in an increase of the width of mass distributions and large angular anisotropy as in the case of quasifission.