Experimental study of some important characteristics of the thermal neutron induced fission of 237Np

C. Wagemans, E. Allaert, F. Caïtucoli, P. D'hondt, G. Barreau, P. Perrin

    Research outputpeer-review

    Abstract

    Fission fragment mass and kinetic energy distributions and their correlations have been studied for the thermal neutron induced fission of 237Np. The global mass distribution is rather smooth, apart from a weak shoulder at μH = 140-141. When low excitation events are selected, fine structures associated with the charge of the fragments are observed. Furthermore, there is a sudden increase in Ek for μH > 155, which is probably due to a spherical shell N = 50 in the light fragment and the corresponding deformed (but stable) heavy fragments with masses in the rare earth region. For the average (pre-neutron emission) total fragment kinetic energy, a value of 176.4 ± 0.6 MeV has been obtained, in agreement with the systematics. Also the prompt neutron emission curve v(m*) has been calculated, which shows the well-known saw-tooth shape. Finally, the energy distribution and the emission probability of the ternary α-particles have been determined.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1-14
    Number of pages14
    JournalNuclear Physics, Section A
    Volume369
    Issue number1
    DOIs
    StatePublished - 12 Oct 1981

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Nuclear and High Energy Physics

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