E. Cottereau

Release properties of UCx and molten U targets

Abstract The release properties of UC x and molten U thick targets associated with a Nier–Bernas ion source have been studied. Two experimental methods are used to extract the release time. Results are presented and discussed for Kr, Cd, I and Xe.

Recent studies to improve release properties from thick isotope separator on-line fission targets

In the framework of the PARRNe program (Production d’Atomes Radioactifs Riches en Neutrons) of IPN Orsay, various techniques are currently used to characterize the release properties of elements of interest from a UCX target. On-line studies have been carried out with two plasma ion sources: a Nier–Bernas and a hot plasma ISOLDE-type (the ISOLDE collaboration kindly supplied us a MK5 ion source for these studies). In parallel, the analysis of the chemical and structure properties of some UCX samples as function of heating conditions has been carried out. Such data are essential to determine optimal conditions for the production of isotopes by the isotope separator on-line (ISOL) technique. First results are presented here for Kr and Ag. Investigations for other kinds of fission targets are planned.

STRUCTURE OF THE NEUTRON RICH Ga AND Ge ISOTOPES OBSERVED AT ALTO

During test runs dedicated to the commissioning of ALTO (Accelerateur Lineaire et Tandem a Orsay), β and β-n decay of the very neutron rich could be observed at the tape station installed on-line with the PARRNe mass-separator. γ-lines observed in the resulting spectra and a careful analysis of the balance of their relative intensities point toward the existence of two β-decaying states in 84Ga. The decay of these long-lived states appear to feed the and excited states of and the state in allowing a significant improvement of the knowledge on nuclear structure in the immediate vicinity of 78Ni.

Experimental study of {sup 84}Ga {beta} decay: Evidence for a rapid onset of collectivity in the vicinity of {sup 78}Ni

{gamma}-rays following the {beta} and {beta}-n decays of the very neutron rich {sub 31}{sup 84}Ga{sub 53} produced by the photofission of {sup 238}U have been studied at the newly built ISOL facility of IPN Orsay: ALTO. Two activities were observed and assigned to two {beta}-decaying states: {sup 84}Ga{sup g}, I{sup {pi}}=(0{sup -}) and {sup 84}Ga{sup m}, I{sup {pi}}=(3{sup -},4{sup -}). Excitation energies of the 2{sub 1}{sup +} and 4{sub 1}{sup +} states of {sub 32}{sup 84}Ge{sub 52} were measured at E(2{sub 1}{sup +})=624.3 keV and E(4{sub 1}{sup +})=1670.1 keV. Comparison with HFB + GCM calculations allows to establish the collective character of this nucleus. The excitation energy of the 1/2{sub 1}{sup +} state in {sub 32}{sup 83}Ga{sub 51} known to carry a large part of the neutron 3s{sub 1/2} strength was measured at 247.8 keV. Altogether these data allow to confirm the new single particle state ordering which appears immediately after the double Z=28 and N=50 shell closure and to designate {sup 78}Ni as a fragile and easily polarized doubly-magic core.

Decay of neutron-rich Ga isotopes near N = 50 at PARRNe

The PARRNe facility has been used to produce neutron-rich isotopes 83,84Gaby the ISOL method. Their decay has been studied, and β-γ coincidence and γ-γ coincidence data were collected as a function of time. The first two excited levels in 83Ge and the first excited level in 84Ge have been measured for the first time.