Properties of previously unknown 227Pu isotope are studied at FLNR
Scientists from FLNR in collaboration with colleagues from research centres in Russia, Kazakhstan and China studied radioactive decay properties of new 227Pu nucleus (plutonium-227) and its daughter products. First obtained halflife periods for plutonium nuclei are in good agreement with the theoretical predictions and existing systematics
The studies were carried out at FLNR using GRAND gas-filled separator of products of complete fusion reactions based on the SHE Factory which allows experiments to be performed on beams of 48Ca multicharged ions with a record intensity reaching 10 mkA · particles. GABRIELA detector system designed for precision α-, β-, γ- correlation spectroscopy of short-lived nuclei obtained in heavy ion reactions was used to register recoil nuclei and their decay products.
Studying the properties of nuclei located far from β-stability line makes it possible to determine the effect of neutron or proton excess in nucleus on the properties of radioactive decay. Scientists studied the properties of radioactive decay of the lightest isotopes of plutonium up to N = 132 in the reactions of complete fusion of 26Mg ions with 204,206Pb target nuclei, in channels with evaporation of several neutrons. Obtained results were compared with the theoretical estimates (Qα) and systematics of half-life periods.
New 227Pu isotope with Eα = (8156 ± 26) keV has 2,2−0,3+0,5 half-life period and an electtron capture probability bEC = 0,23 ± 0,1. A correlated event was recorded in 26Mg + 204Pb reaction which can be attributed to α-decay of the new 227Pu isotope (Eα = (8754 ± 24) keV) with 1 ms estimated lower limit of half-life period. The scientists made a conclusion that for 227Pu isotope it’s possible to trace an increase in survival with respect to α-decay characteristic for even-odd nuclei.
For more details on “Properties of radioactive decay of the new 227Pu nucleus” work read preprint P7-2024-50 issued by the JINR Publishing Department. Among the authors the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research is presented by Alena Kuznetsova, Alexander Svirikhin, Andrey Isaev, Maxim Bychkov, Vladislav Danilkin, Khaleshappa Devaraja, Nikolay Zamyatin, Igor Izosimov, Oleg Malyshev, Roman Mukhin, Andrey Popeko, Yuri Popov, Vladimir Rachkov, Bekzat Sailaubekov, Evgeny Sokol, Mereigul Tezekbaeva, Irina Ulanova, Viktor Chepigin, Maxim Chelnokov, and Alexander Eremin.