Results on $^{235}$U(n$_{\mathrm{th}}$,f) isotopic fission yields using prompt and delayed gamma rays at the FIPPS spectrometer of the ILL

Abstract

We present preliminary results from a measurement campaign conducted with the FIPPS $γ$-ray spectrometer at the ILL using an active target made of $^{235}$U dissolved in a liquid scintillator. Prompt $γ$ rays were used to extract absolute, independent isotopic fission yields. We obtained yields for a selected set of well-produced even-even nuclei from the $^{235}$U(n$_{\mathrm{th}}$,f) reaction and compared them with JEFF-3.3 evaluated data. This included the doubly magic nucleus $^{132}$Sn, for which we observed a pronounced deficit (about a factor 7) with respect to JEFF-3.3. Using the FIFRELIN fission fragment de-excitation code, we interpreted this discrepancy as evidence that $^{132}$Sn is mainly produced in its ground state at scission or after neutron evaporation. Delayed $γ$ rays recorded in the same experiment were also analysed. No deviation was found in the beta decay of $^{132}$Sn compared to the nuclear database. However, an excess of about a 40% was found in the $β$ decay of $^{90}$Kr, which may originate from an overestimated ground-state feeding of $^{90}$Rb in the evaluated data.