Scission Deformation of the ^{120}Cd/^{132}Sn Neutronless Fragmentation in ^{252}Cf(sf)

We report on a study of the radiative decay of fission fragments populated via neutronless fission of ^{252}Cf(sf). Applying the double-energy method a perfect mass identification is achieved for these rare events. In the specific case of the ^{120}Cd/^{132}Sn cold fragmentation, we find that ^{132}Sn is produced in its ground state. We can therefore directly measure the excitation energy of the complementary fragment, ^{120}Cd. The reproduction of the γ-ray spectrum, measured in coincidence with the neutronless fission events, is sensitive to the angular momentum distribution of the studied primary fragment. The latter estimated using a time-dependent collective Hamiltonian model, allows us to constrain for the first time the deformation (β_{2}≃0.4) of the studied fission fragment at scission. The present work demonstrates the high potential of the understudied neutronless fission channel for extracting detailed information on both fission fragments and process.

Evidence for a New Compact Symmetric Fission Mode in Light Thorium Isotopes

Taking benefit of the R3B/SOFIA setup to measure the mass and the nuclear charge of both fission fragments in coincidence with the total prompt-neutron multiplicity, the scission configurations are inferred along the thorium chain, from the asymmetric fission in the heavier isotopes to the symmetric fission in the neutron-deficient thorium. Against all expectations, the symmetric scission in the light thorium isotopes shows a compact configuration, which is in total contrast to what is known in the fission of the heavier thorium isotopes and heavier actinides. This new main symmetric scission mode is characterized by a significant drop in deformation energy of the fission fragments of about 19 MeV, compared to the well-known symmetric scission in the uranium-plutonium region.

Preliminary results on the 233U α-ratio measurement at n_TOF

233U is the fissile nuclei in the Th-U fuel cycle with a particularily small neutron capture cross setion which is on average about one order of magnitude lower than its fission cross section. Hence, the measurement of the 233U(n, γ) cross section relies on a method to accurately distinguish between capture and fission γ-rays. A measurement of the 233U α-ratio has been performed at the n_TOF facility at CERN using a so-called fission tagging setup, coupling n_TOF 's Total Absorption Calorimeter with a novel fission chamber to tag the fission γ-rays. The experimental setup is described and essential parts of the analysis are discussed. Finally, a preliminary 233U α-ratio is presented.

Preliminary results on the 233U capture cross section and alpha ratio measured at n_TOF (CERN) with the fission tagging technique

233U is of key importance among the fissile nuclei in the Th-U fuel cycle. A particularity of 233U is its small neutron capture cross-section, which is on average about one order of magnitude lower than the fission cross-section. The accuracy in the measurement of the 233U capture cross-section depends crucially on an efficient capture-fission discrimination, thus a combined set-up of fission and γ-detectors is needed. A measurement of the 233U capture cross-section and capture-to-fission ratio was performed at the CERN n_TOF facility. The Total Absorption Calorimeter (TAC) of n_TOF was employed as γ-detector coupled with a novel compact ionization chamber as fission detector. A brief description of the experimental set-up will be given, and essential parts of the analysis procedure as well as the preliminary response of the set-up to capture are presented and discussed.

The Neutrons for Science Facility at SPIRAL-2

The neutrons for science (NFS) facility is a component of SPIRAL-2, the new superconducting linear accelerator built at GANIL in Caen (France). The proton and deuteron beams delivered by the accelerator will allow producing intense neutron fields in the 100 keV-40 MeV energy range. Continuous and quasi-mono-kinetic energy spectra, respectively, will be available at NFS, produced by the interaction of a deuteron beam on a thick Be converter and by the 7Li(p,n) reaction on thin converter. The pulsed neutron beam, with a flux up to two orders of magnitude higher than those of other existing time-of-flight facilities, will open new opportunities of experiments in fundamental research as well as in nuclear data measurements. In addition to the neutron beam, irradiation stations for neutron-, proton- and deuteron-induced reactions will be available for cross-sections measurements and for the irradiation of electronic devices or biological cells. NFS, whose first experiment is foreseen in 2018, will be a very powerful tool for physics, fundamental research as well as applications like the transmutation of nuclear waste, design of future fission and fusion reactors, nuclear medicine or test and development of new detectors.

High-precision measurement of isotopic fission yields of 236U*

We report on the second SOFIA experiment, dedicated to the fission yields of 236U*, analog to 235U(n,f). The measurement is based on the inverse kinematics method, using a relativistic, secondary beam of 236U. Both fission fragments are identified in mass and charge in the SOFIA recoil spectrometer. The obtained isotopic yields are compared with existing spectroscopy measurements and the elemental yields are used to discuss the treatment of the even-odd effect with energy in nuclear data libraries.

Use of active scintillating targets in nuclear physics experiments - Measurement of spontaneous fission

A novel detector has been used, in order to perform measurements of spontaneous fission to α-decay ratios for 240Pu, 242Pu and 252Cf isotopes. The detectors are based on the well-known technique of liquid scintillating counting. The principle and advantages of the use of such detectors in nuclear physics is discussed. The application to the characterization of spontaneous fission is described and it is demonstrated that highly precise measurements are possible, and that the main limit is due to the isotopic content knowledge of the measured samples.

Magnetic moment of the fragmentation-aligned 61Fe (9/2(+)) isomer

We report on the g factor measurement of an isomer in the neutron-rich (61)(26)Fe (E(*)=861 keV and T(1/2)=239(5) ns). The isomer was produced and spin aligned via a projectile-fragmentation reaction at intermediate energy, the time dependent perturbed angular distribution method being used for the measurement of the g factor. For the first time, due to significant improvements of the experimental technique, an appreciable residual alignment of the nuclear spin ensemble has been observed, allowing a precise determination of its g factor, including the sign: g=-0.229(2). In this way we open the possibility to study moments of very neutron-rich short-lived isomers, not accessible via other production and spin-orientation methods.