KEWPIE2: A cascade code for the study of dynamical decay of excited nuclei

Submitted to Computer Physics CommunicationsInternational audienceKEWPIE — a cascade code devoted to investigating the dynamical decay of excited nuclei, specially designed for treating very low probability events related to the synthesis of super-heavy nuclei formed in fusion-evaporation reactions — has been improved and rewritten in C++ programing language to become KEWPIE2. The current version of the code comprises various nuclear models concerning the light-particle emission, fission process and statistical properties of excited nuclei. General features of the code, such as the numerical scheme and the main physical ingredients, are described in detail. Some typical calculations having been performed in the present paper clearly show that theoretical predictions are generally in accordance with experimental data. Furthermore, since the values of some input parameters cannot be determined neither theoretically nor experimentally, a sensibility analysis is presented. To this end, we systematically investigate the effects of using different parameter values and reaction models on the final results. As expected, in the case of heavy nuclei, the fission process has the most crucial role to play in theoretical predictions. This work would be essential for numerical modeling of fusion-evaporation reactions

Dynamics of massive systems and synthesis of superheavy elements

International audienceFor the synthesis of superheavy elements, it is indisensable to divide process into two steps : overcoming the Coulomb barrier and passing over the conditional saddle or the ridgeline. To facilitate the understanding of the mechanism which explains the fusion hindrance, we first emply an analytic model with an inverted parabola for the saddle. Then, results by realistic calculations are given for the cold fusion. Ambiguities of the model are also discussed for future investigations. Since the model is general, it is applied to incident channels with neutron-rich projectile and/or targets. These are necessary for synthesis of nuclides on so-called superheavy island around Z=114 and N=18

Search for a long lived component in the reaction U+U near the Coulomb barrier

Expérience GANILInternational audienceWe performed an experiment to search for a signature of a long living component in the collision of $^{238}$U + $^{238}$U between 6.09 and 7.35A MeV. The experiment was performed at GANIL using the spectrometer VAMOS, tuned for observing reactions with kinematics similar to fusion-fission events. Theoretical calculations indicate that if a long living component would exist for this reaction, the most probable fission channel of such a giant system would be via the emissionof quasi-lead nuclei. We detected events of such a category in the focal plane of VAMOS. These events present an excitation function growing as a function of the bombarding energy

KEWPIE2: un code statistique dédié aux noyaux composés exotiques

http://polywww.in2p3.fr/jrjc2005National audienc

Etude de l'influence de l'énergie de correction de couches sur les réactions nucléaires menant à la région des noyaux superlourds

The aim of this PhD is to study the influence of shell correction energy on the desexcitation of superheavy nuclei. For that purpose, a new statistical code, called Kewpie2, which is based on an original algorithm allowing to have access to very weak probabilities, was developed. The results obtained with Kewpie2 were compared to the experimental data on residue cross sections obtained by cold fusion (Z=108 to Z=113) and by hot fusion (Z=112, Z=114 and Z=116), as well as data on fission times (Z=114, Z=120 and Z=126). Constraints on the microscopic structure of the studied nuclei were obtained by means of the shell correction energy. By adjusting the intrinsic parameters of the models of fusion in order to reproduce the data on the fusion cross sections, this study show the necessity of decreasing very strongly the shell correction energy predicted by the calculations of Møller and Nix, during the study of the residues cross sections as well for the nuclei produced by cold fusion as by hot fusion. On the other hand, during the confrontation of the results of Kewpie2 to the data on mean fission times, it is rather advisable to increase it. A shift of the proton shell closure predicted for Z=114 by the calculations of Møller and Nix towards larger Z would allow to explain these opposite conclusions. In this thesis, we also have shown the significant influence of the inclusion of isomeric states on fission times for the superheavy nuclei.Cette thèse porte sur l'influence des énergies de correction de couches sur la désexcitation des noyaux superlourds. Pour cela, un nouveau code statistique, appelé Kewpie2, qui repose sur un algorithme original permettant d'avoir accès à de très faibles probabilités, a été développé. Les résultats obtenus avec Kewpie2 ont été confrontés aux données expérimentales sur les sections efficaces de résidus obtenus par fusion froide (Z=108 à Z=113) et par fusion chaude (Z=112, Z=114 et Z=116), ainsi qu'aux données sur les temps de fission (Z=114, Z=120 et Z=126). Des contraintes sur la structure microscopique des noyaux étudiés ont été obtenues par le biais des énergies de correction de couches. En ajustant les paramètres intrinsèques des modèles de fusion utilisés afin de reproduire les données sur les sections efficaces de fusion, cette étude a mis en évidence la nécessité de diminuer très fortement les énergies de correction de couches prédites par les calculs de Møller et Nix, lors de l'étude des sections efficaces de résidus aussi bien pour des noyaux produits par fusion froide que par fusion chaude. Par contre, lors de la confrontation des résultats de Kewpie2 aux données sur les temps de fission moyen, il convient plutôt de les augmenter. Un déplacement de la fermeture de couche proton prédite à Z=114 par les calculs de Møller et Nix vers des Z plus élevés permettrait d'expliquer ces conclusions opposées. Dans cette thèse, nous avons aussi mis en évidence l'influence significative de la prise en compte d'états isomériques pour les noyaux superlourds, sur le temps de fission

A new formula for the saddle-to-scission time

We propose a new formula for the saddle-to-scission time that is more general that the one based on Kramers' apporoach. Its validity and applicabilty is then studied in detail. Such a formula is useful for the evaluation of the fission time of very heavy nuclei

What can we learn from the fission time of the super-heavy elements?

International audienceRecent experiments performed at GANIL with a crystal blocking technique have shown direct evidences of long fission times in the Super-Heavy Elements (SHE) region. Aimed to localize the SHE island of stability, can these experiments give access to the fission barrier and then to the shell-correction energy? In this paper, we calculate the fission time of heavy elements by using a new code, KEWPIE2, devoted to the study of the SHE.We also investigate the effect of potential structure beyond the saddle on the fission time

Performances of Neutron Scattering Spectrometers on a Compact Neutron Source

International audienceThere is currently a big effort put into the operation and construction of world class neutron scattering facilities (SNS and SNS-TS2 in the US, J-PARC in Japan, ESS in Europe, CSS in China, PIK in Russia). On the other hand, there exists a network of smaller neutron scattering facilities which play a key role in creating a large neutron scattering community who is able to efficiently use the existing facilities. With the foreseen closure of the ageing nuclear research reactors, especially in Europe, there is a risk of seeing a shrinking of the community able to use efficiently the world class facilities. There is thus a reflection being conducted in several countries for the replacement of smaller research reactors with low energy accelerator based sources. We consider here a reference design for a compact neutron source based on existing accelerator components. We estimate the performances of various types of neutron scattering instruments built around such a source. The results suggest that nowadays state of the art neutron scattering experiments could be successfully performed on such a compact source and that it is thus a viable replacement solution for neutron research reactors