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/sup 233/U levels populated in the. cap alpha. decay of /sup 237/Pu

Journal Article · · Phys. Rev., C; (United States)
The 45.3-day nuclide /sup 237/Pu decays primarily via electron capture. The only information available up to now concerning the nuclide's ..cap alpha..-decay properties has been the observation of two ..cap alpha.. groups with energies of 5.65 and 5.36 MeV. In the present study, the photon spectrum of /sup 237/Pu was investigated with x- and ..gamma..-ray Ge(Li) detectors. A total of 21 transitions was found to belong to /sup 237/Pu decay; of these, 16 were assigned to its ..cap alpha..-decay branch. An ..cap alpha..-decay scheme was constructed on the bases of transition energy fits and known /sup 233/U levels (including some observed only in reaction studies). The amounts of direct ..cap alpha..-decay feedings were then calculated from intensity balances, and a total ..cap alpha..-branching of (4.2 +- 0.4) x 10/sup -3/% was deduced. ..cap alpha..-decay hindrance factors identify the band heads of the (5/2)(752) and (7/2)(743) orbitals in /sup 233/U at 298.9 and 503.5 keV, respectively. Contrastingly, the /sup 233/Pa and /sup 233/Np decay studies had assigned the (7/2)(743) state to the level at 298.9 keV.
Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830
OSTI ID:
5977081
Journal Information:
Phys. Rev., C; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev., C; (United States) Vol. 20:2; ISSN PRVCA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English