Abstract
The total photofission cross sections for the actinide nuclei and have been measured from 68 to 264 MeV using tagged photons at the Saskatchewan Accelerator Laboratory. The fission fragments were detected using parallel-plate avalanche detectors. The results show that the fission probability for is 20% lower than that for and 40% higher than that for Less significant differences were also found among the individual uranium isotopes. These results contradict the assumption that the fission probability for is approximately equal to unity in this energy range. It has also been observed that the fission probability as a function of energy for all these isotopes is constant, with the exception of that for which increases with energy, although it seems to be reaching a saturation value. Comparison between the total photofission cross section for and the photoabsorption cross sections for lighter nuclei shows a behavior consistent with a broadening of the resonance with increasing atomic mass.
- Received 28 May 1999
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.61.034604
©2000 American Physical Society