Energy distribution of ternaryαparticles in spontaneous fission ofCf252

The energy distribution of the ternary $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ particles in spontaneous fission of $^{252}\mathrm{Cf}$ was measured. For the first time an energy threshold as low as 1 MeV was reached. The experiment used an array of unshielded silicon detectors measuring energy and time-of-flight (TOF) of ternary particles in coincidence with fission fragments. The TOF resolution of the system was sufficient for clear separation of $^{6}\mathrm{He}$ and tritons from $^{4}\mathrm{He}$. The statistics were adequate to extract the $^{6}\mathrm{He}$/$^{4}\mathrm{He}$ yield ratio. For both $^{4}\mathrm{He}$ and $^{6}\mathrm{He}$, an excess in the yield (as compared to a Gaussian shape) was observe…