$^{242m}$Am isomer yield in $^{243}$Am$(n, 2n)$ reaction

TL;DR

This paper investigates the production and yield of the 242mAm isomer in the 243Am(n, 2n) reaction, analyzing the nuclear states, decay pathways, and comparing experimental data with theoretical predictions.

Contribution

It provides a detailed calculation of the relative yields of ground and isomeric states of 242Am in the (n, 2n) reaction, including the effects of nuclear structure and reaction mechanisms.

Findings

Calculated yields match experimental data for 242gAm.

Different spin state ordering explains yield variations near reaction threshold.

Supports neutron contribution to fission neutron spectra.

Abstract

The reaction 243 Am (n, 2n) populates the T of 16 hours ground state 242 g Am with J of 1 or the 242 m Am isomer state J of 5 with T of 141 years. The former state 242 g Am mostly beta decays to 242 Cm, or transmutes to 242 Pu via electron capture. The absolute yield of 242 g Am is compatible with the measured data, estimated by the alpha activity of 242 Cm by Norris in 1983. The branching ratio defined by the ratio of the populations of the lowest intrinsic states of 242 Am. Calculated yields of ground 242 g Am and isomer 242 m Am states of the residual nucleus 242 Am are used to predict the relative yield of isomer. These populations defined by the gamma decay of the excited states, described by the standard kinetic equation. The ordering of the low and high spin states is different in case of 236 Np and 242 Am nuclei, that explains different shapes of relative yields near the (n, 2n) reaction threshold, though the excitation energy dependences are similar. Data of 243 Am (n, F) at 5 MeV and 15 MeV by Drapchinsky in 2004, support calculated 243Am (n,xnf) prefission neutron contribution to prompt fission neutron spectra and calculated exclusive neutron spectra of 243 Am (n, 2n) feeding the 242 g Am and isomer 242 m Am states.