Prompt neutron polarization asymmetries in photofission of Th232, U233,235,238, Np237, and Pu239,240

J. M. Mueller, M. W. Ahmed, R. H. France, III, M. S. Johnson, H. J. Karwowski, L. S. Myers, J. Randrup, M. H. Sikora, M. C. Spraker, S. Stave, J. R. Tompkins, R. Vogt, H. R. Weller, C. S. Whisnant, and W. R. Zimmerman
Phys. Rev. C 89, 034615 – Published 19 March 2014
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Abstract

Photofission experiments were performed on targets of Th232, U233,235,238, Np237, and Pu239,240 using nearly 100% linearly polarized, high intensity (∼5×106γ/s), and nearly-monoenergetic γ-ray beams having energies between 5.3 and 7.6 MeV at the High Intensity γ-ray Source (HIγS) located at Duke University and Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory. An array of 12–18 liquid scintillator detectors was used to measure prompt fission neutron yields parallel and perpendicular to the plane of beam polarization. Polarization asymmetries, the differences between the in-plane and out-of-plane yields divided by their sums, were measured. Asymmetries close to zero were found for 233,235U, Np237, and 239Pu while significant asymmetries (∼0.2–0.5) were found for Th232, 238U, and 240Pu. Predictions based on previously measured photofission fragment angular distributions combined with a model of prompt neutron emission agree well with the experimental results.

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  • Received 13 January 2014

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.89.034615

©2014 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

J. M. Mueller1,2, M. W. Ahmed1,2,3, R. H. France, III4, M. S. Johnson5,6, H. J. Karwowski1,7, L. S. Myers1,2,*, J. Randrup8, M. H. Sikora1,9, M. C. Spraker10, S. Stave11, J. R. Tompkins1,7,†, R. Vogt5,12, H. R. Weller1,2, C. S. Whisnant13, and W. R. Zimmerman1,2,14

  • 1Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA
  • 2Department of Physics, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA
  • 3Department of Mathematics and Physics, North Carolina Central University, Durham, North Carolina 27707, USA
  • 4Department of Chemistry, Physics, and Astronomy, Georgia College and State University, Milledgeville, Georgia 31061, USA
  • 5Physics Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA
  • 6Department of Physics and Astronomy, San Jose State University, San Jose, California 95192, USA
  • 7Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
  • 8Nuclear Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
  • 9Department of Physics, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
  • 10Department of Physics, University of North Georgia, Dahlonega, Georgia 30597, USA
  • 11Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99352, USA
  • 12Department of Physics, University of California–Davis, Davis, California 95616, USA
  • 13Department of Physics, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Virginia 22807, USA
  • 14Department of Physics, University of Connecticut–Storrs, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, USA

  • *Present location: Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, Newport News, VA 23606.
  • †Present location: Department of Physics and Astronomy, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824.

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Vol. 89, Iss. 3 — March 2014

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