NUCLEAR CHARGE DISPERSION IN THE HIGH-ENERGY FISSION OF URANIUM

Abstract

The independent formation cross sections of Cs130, Cs132, Cs134, Cs136, Cs138, Rb86, Nb95m, Nb96, and Nb97 produced in the fission of natural uranium by protons have been measured radiochemically at incident proton energies ranging from 10 Mev to 85 Mev. The excitation functions correlate well with those obtained by Friedlander, Friedman, Gordon, and Yaffe (1963). Charge dispersion curves were constructed at 20, 36, 50, 65, and 80 Mev. The curves broaden with increasing proton energy and the most probable charge approaches the line of β-stability. An explanation for both of these effects is given in terms of spallation–fission competition.