0000000000496450
AUTHOR
M. Brügger
New nuclides: Neptunium-243 and neptunium-244
We have observedγ-rays following the β−-decay of243Np and244Np after chemical isolation of neptunium isotopes from the products of the reaction of 835 MeV136Xe with244Pu. The ground-state of 1.85-min243Np hasJ=5/2. The decay of 2.29-min244Np (probableJπ=7−) populates high-spin members of the ground state rotational band in244Pu.
Beta-decay of148,150,152Pr into levels of148,150,152Nd
Theβ−-decay of148,150,152Pr into levels of148,150,152Nd has been studied byγ-singles,γγ-coincidence and for148Pr also byγγ-angular correlation measurements. The praseodymium activities have been obtained by thermal neutron-induced fission of235U followed by on-line mass separation with the helium-jet coupled mass separator HELIOS. Decay schemes for these heaviest praseodymium nuclides are proposed. From the angular correlation measurements spin values for the seven lowest levels of148Nd are deduced. Spin and parity assignments for the lower levels in150,152Nd have been extrapolated from level systematics.
Performance of the on-line isotope separation facility HELIOS at the Mainz reactor
Abstract The helium-jet on-line isotope eparation facility HELIOS is in operation at the Mainz reactor for spectroscopic studies on mass separated neutron-rich nuclides far from the line of beta-stability. The basic features and achievements of the facility are reported. A total of 45 isotopes of the elements Rb, Sr, Y, Sn, Sb, Te, Cs, Ba, La, Ce, Pr and Nd have been separated and identified so far. Overall efficiencies up to 2% have been obtained using the integrated skimmer ion source arrangement either in a hollow cathode or in a high temperature surface ionization mode. The delay time for the HELIOS system was determined to be about 1 s.
A heavy-ion identification system for the detection of rare events
Abstract A large area detection system is described which consists of twelve low-pressure multi-wire proportional counters and is used in the search for exotic super-massive nuclei. The experiments are based on Rutherford backscattering of heavy ions, preferably 208Pb or 238U, from various target samples. The measured parameters of a detected particle are its time-of-flight, scattering angle, and specific ionization. From this information the mass of the target nucleus can be inferred. The present experimental sensitivity for the detection of exotic nuclei with at least twice the mass of the projectile is about 10−12 relative to the number of nucleons.
Search for strange matter by Rutherford backscattering
According to a number of suggestions, stable strange matter could exist in the form of supermassive nuclei (or 'strange nuggets')1,2. In contrast to ordinary nuclei, which contain only 'up' and 'down' quarks, a piece of strange matter should comprise a mixture of 'up', 'down' and 'strange' quarks in roughly equal proportions. Small amounts of strange matter could have survived from the early stages of the Universe1. Alternatively, strange matter might reach the Earth as a flux of strange nuggets produced in collisions of neutron stars3. Limits to the cosmic flux of strange nuggets with masses in the range from 10−4 to 250 g have been obtained in a search for light produced by the nuggets in…
Excitation functions for production of heavy actinides from interactions ofCa40andCa48ions withCm248
Excitation functions have been measured for production of isotopes of Bk through Fm in bombardments of /sup 248/Cm with 234- to 294-MeV /sup 40/Ca ions and with 239- to 318-MeV /sup 48/Ca ions. The maxima of the isotopic distributions for these elements occur at only 2 to 3 mass numbers larger for /sup 48/Ca than for /sup 40/Ca reactions. The shapes of the distributions and the half-widths of about 2.5 mass numbers are quite similar to those observed previously for reactions of /sup 16/O, /sup 18/O, /sup 20/Ne, and /sup 22/Ne with /sup 248/Cm. In general, the excitation functions for /sup 40/Ca show maxima near the Coulomb barrier while those for /sup 48/Ca are about 20 MeV above the barrie…
The on-line isotope separation facility helios at the mainz reactor
Abstract The on-line isotope separation facility HELIOS consisting of a helium-jet transport system coupled to a high transmission mass separator is described. The main characteristics of the system were determined from γ-ray measurements on neutron-rich nuclides. The transmission from the target to the skimmer is about 60%; the overall efficiency for typical fission product elements is 0.05–0.2% and the transit time for Cs is about 1.0 s.
Reactions of40Ar with233U,235U, and238U at the barrier
Production cross sections for target-like transfer products in reactions of40Ar with233,235,238U at the barrier were determined using radiochemical techniques. The heaviest products detected are isotopes of californium (Z=98). In addition to the quasi-elastic component of the isotopic distributions observed in the vicinity of uranium, there are also relaxed contributions throughout the entire region. The peak positions of the isotope distributions of this component for fixed atomic number, after the transfer of > 3 charges, approach closely the minimum of the potential energy surfaces (PES). The experimental results thus indicate the cold formation of the reaction products. A search for lon…
Decay of the heaviest isotope of neodymium:154Nd
The neutron-rich isotope154Nd has been separated from235U fission products with the HELIum-jet On-line mass Separator HELIOS and investigated by γ-singles, γγ- and γX-coincidence measurements. The Z- and A-assignment have been confirmed by the observation of promethium KX-rays and by the genetic relationship to the daughter product 1.7-min154Pm. A half-life of 26±2 s has been obtained for154Nd, and a partial decay scheme is proposed. A 40 s activity previously assigned to154Nd could not be confirmed.
Attempts to Produce Superheavy Elements by Fusion ofCa48withCm248in the Bombarding Energy Range of 4.5-5.2 MeV/u
A search for superheavy elements was made in bombardments of $^{248}\mathrm{Cm}$ with $^{48}\mathrm{Ca}$ ions performed at projectile energies close to the interaction barrier in order to keep the excitation energy of the compound nucleus $Z=116$, $A=296$ as low as possible. No evidence for superheavy nuclei was obtained in a half-life region from 1 \ensuremath{\mu}s to 10 yr with a production cross section greater than ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}34}$ to ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}35}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$.