A. N. Chernikov

Development of gas-filled position-sensitive detectors of thermal neutrons at the Frank Laboratory of Neutron Physics of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research

The Frank Laboratory of Neutron Physics of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research is one of the leading centers of neutron research in Russia. Within the works on the modernization of detector systems, researchers of the laboratory have designed and fabricated linear and area gas-filled position-sensitive detectors of thermal neutrons and the area monitor detector with a low attenuation of the incoming beam. These devices and their main characteristics have been described.

Investigations of parity violation and interference effects in 235U fission induced by resonance neutrons

Abstract These investigations were performed to test the modern theory and to obtain first estimates of nuclear matrix elements of weak interaction and the main parameters of p -resonances. Combined investigations of the space parity non-conservation effect of 235 U fission fragment emission and the interference effects of the forward-backward and left-right asymmetries were carried out over the range of neutron energies from 0.02 eV to 90 eV. The experimental results are found to be in good agreement with the theory. The first estimates of the nuclear matrix element of the weak interaction for three p -resonances and the main parameters of some low energy p -wave resonances are obtained from a combined theoretical description of all experimental data.

Two-coordinate position-sensitive monitor-detector of thermal neutrons

Development of new high-flux-intensity neutron sources and the need to equip them with efficient spectrometers raises the problem of designing special-purpose direct-beam monitors-detectors. These detectors feature an extremely low efficiency and a very low attenuation of the incident neutron beam. In this work, a two-coordinate position-sensitive monitor-detector is described that was developed for real-time recording of the profile of neutron beams generated by both steady and pulsed neutron sources. The basic parameters of this device are the following: a coordinate resolution of 4 × 4 mm2, a sensitive area of 100 × 100 mm2, and a recording efficiency of 10−6−10−2. Use of nitrogen as a converter makes it possible to achieve a record low efficiency and still maintain other parameters at a desired level. The device can be combined not only with high-flux-intensity neutron sources already in use worldwide but also with next-generation sources being developed in the United States (SNS) and Japan (JPARC).

A One-Dimensional Position-Sensitive Detector for Thermal Neutrons

A one-dimensional position-sensitive detector of thermal neutrons has been developed to equip high-efficiency neutron spectrometers at the ИБР-2 research reactor. The detector is based on a multiwire proportional chamber filled with a mixture of 3He + CF4 and has an active area of 200 × 80 mm and a spatial resolution of 2 mm. The detector has been used to good effect in the REFLEX and HRFD spectrometers of the ИБР-2 reactor, as well as in the diffraction facility of the ИВВ-2M research reactor (Zarechnyi, Russia).

An Autonomous Sorption Refrigerator for Cooling to 0.3 K

A two-stage refrigerator with sorption evacuation of 4He and 3He is described. The apparatus needs no external pumps or gas lines. The refrigerator is constructed in the form of an insert 80 mm in diameter immersed in a helium cryostat and ensures a sample temperature of 0.31 K for 20 h after the condensation of 3He at a useful heat load of 10 μW. The recycling time is 0.5 h.

Investigation of parity violation and interference effects in the angular distributions of fragments originating from 233U fission induced by resonance neutrons

Three interference asymmetry effects in the angular distributions of fragments originating from 233U fission induced by resonance neutrons were measured. The energy dependences of the asymmetry factors being studied show sizable irregularities that are associated, according to modern theory, with the interference of s and p resonances at the stage of a compound nucleus. The basic features of weak p-wave resonances in the low-energy region were obtained from a global theoretical analysis of the asymmetry factors as functions of energy. The first estimates of nuclear matrix elements of weak interaction were derived for a few p-wave resonances.

An ultrahigh-vacuum nitrogen-free helium cryostat with small heat losses

The design of a compact ultrahigh-vacuum nitrogen-free helium cryostat is described. The volume of the helium vessel of the cryostat is 2.7 l, and the time of operation after filling it with liquid helium is >65 h. The cryostat satisfies the requirements imposed on ultrahigh-vacuum systems, allows heating to 200°C, and ensures operation at an evacuation level of 10−10 Torr.

Investigations of the Space Parity Violation and Interference Effects in the Fragment Angular Distributions of 235U, 233U, and 239Pu Fission by Resonance Neutrons

Investigations of the space parity nonconserving (PNC) asymmetry of 233U, 235U, and 239Pu fission fragment emission and parity conserving (PC) interference effects of left‐right and forward‐backward asymmetries were carried out on the neutron beams of the reactor IBR‐30 (JINR, Dubna) over the range of neutron energies from 0.02 eV to about 100 eV. All experimental results obtained have been found to be in a good mutual accordance within the frames of modern theoretical conceptions about the mechanisms of PNC and PC effects forming in fission process induced by slow neutrons. In case of the P‐even interference effects of asymmetry the evident mutual well‐marked irregularities in their neutron energy dependencies up to about 100 eV were observed. It is connected with the interference of s, p‐resonances at fission compound stage according to modern theory. As a remarkable result of the PNC effect measurements the resonance behavior of the PNC asymmetry coefficients in the low neutron energy region (En < 2 eV...

A spectrometer of polarized neutrons

A polarized neutron spectrometer intended for studies of interactions of nuclei and condensed matter with polarized neutrons with energies in the range from thermal energies to several electron volts was designed at the IBR-2 pulsed reactor (JINR, Dubna). Diffraction on magnetized Co(92%)–Fe(8%) single crystals was used to polarize neutrons and analyze the polarization. The attained neutron polarization was ∼95% within the entire energy range.

Polarized epithermal neutron studies of magnetic domains

The average size and shape of magnetic domains in a material can be determined from the precession of polarized neutrons traversing the material. Epithermal neutrons (0.5 eV<En<100 eV), which precess more slowly than thermals, effectively probe the internal structure of samples that are thick or have large domains or large internal fields. Such epithermal neutron measurements require a neutron polarizer and analyzer based on cryogenically polarized spin filters. We discuss the measurement at JINR, Dubna, of magnetic domains in a 2.0 cm. diam. crystal of holmium using 1.7 to 59 eV neutrons polarized by a dynamically polarized proton target and analyzed with a statically polarized dysprosium target.