Evaluation of nuclear excitation by electronic transition in {sup 235}U plasma at local thermodynamic equilibrium

Journal Article · Tue Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 2004 · Physical Review. A

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.69.063414· OSTI ID:20643792

Morel, P; Meot, V; Gosselin, G; Gogny, D; Younes, W ^[1]

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1. Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique, Service de Physique Nucleaire, Boite Postale 12, 91680 Bruyeres-le-Chatel (France)

A complete calculation of the nuclear excitation by electronic transition (NEET) rate of the first excited state of {sup 235}U in a local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) plasma is presented. The microscopic dynamics of the NEET probability are described allowing a clear description of the coupling between the atomic and nuclear transitions for the NEET effect. The atomic properties are estimated in the framework of a relativistic average-atom model. The statistical nature of the electronic transition spectrum is described by the mean of a Gaussian distribution around the average-atom configuration. The analysis of characteristic times occurring in the NEET probability allows one to calculate an equivalent excitation rate in a LTE {sup 235}U plasma. In the density-temperature plane, the NEET rate is strongly structured, showing the most relevant hydrodynamic conditions for the NEET process. The number of {sup 235}U nuclei, excited up to the 76.8 eV isomeric level in a high-intensity laser shot, has also been estimated.

• OSTI ID: 20643792
• Journal Information: Physical Review. A, Vol. 69, Issue 6; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevA.69.063414; (c) 2004 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1050-2947
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ATOMS
COUPLING
DENSITY
EV RANGE
EVALUATION
EXCITATION
EXCITED STATES
GAUSS FUNCTION
LASER RADIATION
LIFETIME
LTE
PLASMA
PROBABILITY
RELATIVISTIC RANGE
URANIUM 235