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Prompt neutrons from fission of heavy nuclei

Journal Article · · Sov. J. Nucl. Phys. (Engl. Transl.); (United States)
OSTI ID:5865853
The yield of prompt neutrons from fission fragments has been studied as a function of the mass and combined kinetic energy for spontaneous fission of /sup 252/Cf and thermal-neutron fission of /sup 239/Pu. The masses of the fragments were found from measurements of the kinetic energies of pair fragments by means of a double ionization chamber. The neutrons were recorded by a plastic scintillator 175 mm in diameter and 70 mm thick with use of the time-of-flight method on a 40-cm flight path. The measurements were made for neutron-detector locations at angles 0 and 90/sup 0/ to the line of fragment emission. Analysis of the results permits the conclusion that there are neutrons emitted from the fissioning nucleus before breakup into fragments or from fragments before their complete acceleration in the Coulomb field. Possible mechanisms for emission of such neutrons are discussed.
OSTI ID:
5865853
Journal Information:
Sov. J. Nucl. Phys. (Engl. Transl.); (United States), Journal Name: Sov. J. Nucl. Phys. (Engl. Transl.); (United States) Vol. 29:3; ISSN SJNCA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English