An experimental survey of the production of alpha decaying heavy elements in the reactions of $^{238}$U +$^{232}$Th at 7.5-6.1 MeV/nucleon

TL;DR

This paper reports on experimental detection of new alpha-decaying heavy nuclei produced in uranium-thorium reactions at energies of 6.1-7.5 MeV/nucleon, revealing high-energy alpha emissions and potential neutron-rich isotopes.

Contribution

It provides new experimental data on heavy isotope production and alpha decay properties in uranium-thorium fusion reactions, including previously unreported alpha emitters.

Findings

Detection of alpha energies up to 12 MeV

Observation of potential new neutron-rich isotopes

Identification of alpha decay characteristics of heavy nuclei

Abstract

The production of alpha particle decaying heavy nuclei in reactions of 7.5-6.1 MeV/nucleon $^{238}$U +$^{232}$Th has been explored using an in-beam detection array composed of YAP scintillators and gas ionization chamber-Si telescopes. Comparisons of alpha energies and half-lives for the observed products with those of the previously known isotopes and with theoretically predicted values indicate the observation of a number of previously unreported alpha emitters. Alpha particle decay energies reaching as high as 12 MeV are observed. Many of these are expected to be from decay of previously unseen relatively neutron rich products. While the contributions of isomeric states require further exploration and specific isotope identifications need to be made, the production of heavy isotopes with quite high atomic numbers is suggested by the data.