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The β-delayed neutron emission in the 85,86As β-decays has been measured at the IGISOL facility of the Accelerator Laboratory of the University of Jyväskylä (JYFL-ACCLAB). The complete β-decays have been studied with a complex setup that consists of a plastic scintillator, the MOdular Neutron time-of-flight SpectromeTER (MONSTER), and two types of γ-ray detectors—an HPGe clover and four LaBr3 crystals. The β-delayed neutron energy distributions have been determined by unfolding the TOF spectra with an innovative methodology based on the iterative Bayesian unfolding method and accurate Monte Carlo simulations.

The accurate determination of reactor antineutrino spectra remains a very hot research topic, where new questions have emerged in recent years. Indeed, after the “reactor anomaly” – a deficit of measured antineutrinos at short baseline reactor experiments with respect to spectral predictions – the three international reactor neutrino experiments Double Chooz, Daya Bay and Reno have evidenced spectral distortions in their measurements with respect to the same spectral predictions. This puzzle is called the “shape anomaly”. Recently summation calculations of reactor antineutrino spectra based on the use of nuclear data have obtained the best agreement to date with the reactor neutrino flux measurements at the level of 2% thanks to a decade of Total Absorption Gamma-ray Spectroscopy (TAGS) measurements at the radioactive beam facility of the University of Jyväskylä in two experimental campaigns. A selection of the results obtained so far is presented.

For the production of exotic nuclei at the IGISOL facility, an ion guide for neutron-induced fission has been developed and tested in experiments. Fission fragments are produced inside the ion guide and collected using a helium buffer gas. Meanwhile, a GEANT4 model has been developed to simulate the transportation and stopping of the charged fission products. In a recent measurement of neutron-induced fission yields, implantation foils were located at different positions in the ion guide. The gamma spectra from these foils and the fission targets are compared to the results from the GEANT4 simulation. In order to allow fission yield measurements in the low yield regions, towards the tails and in the symmetric part of the mass distribution, the stopping and extraction efficiency of the ion guide has to be significantly improved. This objective can be achieved by increasing the size while introducing electric field guidance using a combination of static electrodes and an RF-carpet. To this end, the GEANT4 model is used to optimise the design of such an ion guide.

Three observables of interest for present and future reactors depend on the β decay properties of the fission products: antineutrinos from reactors, the reactor decay heat and delayed neutron emission. In these proceedings, we present new results from summation calculations of the first two quantities quoted above, performed with evolved independent yields coupled with fission product decay data, from various nuclear data bases or models. New TAGS results from the latest experiment of the TAGS collaboration at the JYFL facility of Jyväskylä will be displayed as well as their impact on the antineutrino spectra and the decay heat associated to fission pulses of the main actinides.

Excited states in mirror nuclei 31S and 31P were populated in the 1n and 1p exit channels, respectively, of the reaction 20Ne + 12C. The beam of 20Ne, with an energy of 33 MeV, was delivered for the first time by the Piave-Alpi accelerator of the Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro. Angular correlations of coincident pairs and Doppler-shift attenuation lifetime measurements in 31S and 31P were performed using the multidetector array GASP in conjunction with the EUCLIDES charged particle detector. A comparison of the determined B(E1) strengths of the analog mirror 7/2- → 5/2+ transitions indicates the presence of a violation of isospin symmetry.

The accurate determination of reactor antineutrino spectra remains a very active research topic for which new methods of study have emerged in recent years. Indeed, following the long-recognized reactor anomaly (measured antineutrino deficit in short baseline reactor experiments when compared with spectral predictions), the three international reactor neutrino experiments Double Chooz, Daya Bay and Reno have recently demonstrated the existence of spectral distortions in their measurements with respect to the same predictions. These spectral predictions were obtained through the conversion of integral beta-energy spectra obtained at the ILL research reactor. Several studies have shown that the underlying nuclear physics required for the conversion of these spectra into antineutrino spectra is not totally understood. An alternative to such converted spectra is a complementary approach that consists of determining the antineutrino spectrum by means of the measurement and processing of nuclear data. The beta properties of some key fission products suffer from the pandemonium effect which can be circumvented by the use of the Total Absorption Gamma-ray Spectroscopy technique (TAGS). The two main contributors to the Pressurized Water Reactor antineutrino spectrum in the region where the spectral distortion has been observed are 92Rb and 142Cs, which have been measured at the radioactive beam facility of the University of Jyväskylä in two TAGS experiments. We present the results of the analysis of the TAGS measurements of the β-decay properties of 92Rb along with preliminary results on 142Cs and report on the measurements already performed.

Total absorption gamma-ray spectroscopy is used to measure accurately the intensity of γ emission from neutron-unbound states populated in the β-decay of delayed-neutron emitters. From the comparison of this intensity with the intensity of neutron emission one can deduce information on the (n,γ) cross section for unstable neutron-rich nuclei of interest in r process abundance calculations. A surprisingly large γ branching was observed for a number of isotopes. The results are compared with Hauser-Feshbach calculations and discussed.

In this work we report on total absorption γ-ray spectroscopy measurements of the β decay of fission products that are important contributors to the antineutrino spectrum. The experiment was performed at IGISOL as a part of a campaign of measurements with the new DTAS spectrometer. Preliminary results of the analysis of the β decay of 100Nb,100mNb and 140Cs are presented.

Preliminary results from beta decay studies of nuclei that are important for reactor applications are presented. The beta decays have been studied using the total absorption technique (TAS) and the pure beams provided by the JYFLTRAP system at the IGISOL facility of the University of Jyväskylä.

The β-delayed neutron emission probability, Pn, of very exotic nuclei is crucial for the understanding of nuclear structure properties of many isotopes and astrophysical processes such as the rapid neutron capture process (r-process). In addition β-delayed neutrons are important in a nuclear power reactor operated in a prompt sub-critical, delayed critical condition, as they contribute to the decay heat inducing fission reactions after a shut down. The study of neutron-rich isotopes and the measurement of β-delayed one-neutron emitters (β1n) is possible thanks to the Rare Isotope Beam (RIB) facilities, where radioactive beams allow the production of exotic nuclei of interest, which can be studied and analyzed using specific detection systems. This contribution reports two recent measurements of β-delayed neutron emitters which allowed the determination of half-lives and the neutron branching ratio of isotopes in the mass region above A = 200 and N > 126, and a second experiment which confirmed 136Sb as the heaviest double neutron emitter (β2n) measured so far.

The fission product yields are an important characteristic of the fission process. In fundamental physics, knowledge of the yield distributions is needed to better understand the fission process. For nuclear energy applications good knowledge of neutroninduced fission-product yields is important for the safe and efficient operation of nuclear power plants. With the Ion Guide Isotope Separator On-Line (IGISOL) technique, products of nuclear reactions are stopped in a buffer gas and then extracted and separated by mass. Thanks to the high resolving power of the JYFLTRAP Penning trap, at University of Jyväskylä, fission products can be isobarically separated, making it possible to measure relative independent fission yields. In some cases it is even possible to resolve isomeric states from the ground state, permitting measurements of isomeric yield ratios. So far the reactions U(p,f) and Th(p,f) have been studied using the IGISOL-JYFLTRAP facility. Recently, a neutron converter target has been developed utilizing the Be(p,xn) reaction. We here present the IGISOL-technique for fission yield measurements and some of the results from the measurements on proton induced fission. We also present the development of the neutron converter target, the characterization of the neutron field and the first tests with neutron-induced fission.

Beta decay of fission products is at the origin of decay heat and antineutrino emission in nuclear reactors. Decay heat represents about 7% of the reactor power during operation and strongly impacts reactor safety. Reactor antineutrino detection is used in several fundamental neutrino physics experiments and it can also be used for reactor monitoring and non-proliferation purposes. 92,93Rb are two fission products of importance in reactor antineutrino spectra and decay heat, but their β-decay properties are not well known. New measurements of 92,93Rb β-decay properties have been performed at the IGISOL facility (Jyväskylä, Finland) using Total Absorption Spectroscopy (TAS). TAS is complementary to techniques based on Germanium detectors. It implies the use of a calorimeter to measure the total gamma intensity de-exciting each level in the daughter nucleus providing a direct measurement of the beta feeding. In these proceedings we present preliminary results for 93Rb, our measured beta feedings for 92Rb and we show the impact of these results on reactor antineutrino spectra and decay heat calculations.

To study the β-decay properties of some well known delayed neutron emitters an experiment was performed in 2009 at the IGISOL facility (University of Jyväskylä in Finland) using Total Absorption γ-ray Spectroscopy (TAGS) technique. The aim of these measurements is to obtain the full β-strength distribution below the neutron separation energy (Sn) and the γ/neutron competition above. This information is a key parameter in nuclear technology applications as well as in nuclear astrophysics and nuclear structure. Preliminary results of the analysis show a significant γ-branching ratio above Sn.

β-decay properties of fission products are very important for applied reactor physics, for instance to estimate the decay heat released immediately after the reactor shutdown and to estimate the ν¯$\bar \nu $ flux emitted. An accurate estimation of the decay heat and the ν¯$\bar \nu $ emitted flux from reactors, are necessary for purposes such as reactors operation safety and non-proliferation. In order to improve the precision in the prediction for these quantities, the bias due to the Pandemonium effect affecting some important fission product data has to be corrected. New measurements of fission products β-decay, not sensitive to this effect, have been performed with a Total Absorption Spectrometer (TAS) at the JYFL facility of Jyväskylä. An overview of the TAS technique and first results from the 2009 campaign will be presented.

We report on the current status of the analysis of an experiment performed at The Svedberg Laboratory, with the aim of investigating the produced neutron field by Be(p,xn) converters of three different thicknesses with a 30 MeV proton beam. The neutron energy spectra were measured with the Time of Flight technique using a BC-501 liquid scintillator with good n-γ Pulse Shape Discrimination properties, while the detected events were recorded simultaneously by two Data AcQuisition systems. In this paper, we present the experimental setup, the analysis technique and some preliminary results.

In a nuclear reactor, the β decay of fission fragments is at the origin of decay heat and antineutrino flux. These quantities are not well known while they are very important for reactor safety and for our understanding of neutrino physics. One reason for the discrepancies observed in the estimation of the decay heat and antineutrinos flux coming from reactors could be linked with the Pandemonium effect. New measurements have been performed at the JYFL facility of Jyväskylä with a Total Absorption Spectrometer (TAS) in order to circumvent this effect. An overview of the TAS technique and first results from the 2009 measurement campaign will be presented.

The consistent models for the description of the independent fission product formation cross sections in the spontaneous fission and in the neutron and proton induced fission at the energies up to 100 MeV is developed. This model is a combination of new version of the two-component exciton model and a time-dependent statistical model for fusion-fission process with inclusion of dynamical effects for accurate calculations of nucleon composition and excitation energy of the fissioning nucleus at the scission point. For each member of the compound nucleus ensemble at the scission point, the primary fission fragment characteristics: kinetic and excitation energies and their yields are calculated using the scission-point fission model with inclusion of the nuclear shell and pairing effects, and multimodal approach. The charge distribution of the primary fragment isobaric chains was considered as a result of the frozen quantal fluctuations of the isovector nuclear matter density at the scission point with the finite neck radius. Model parameters were obtained from the comparison of the predicted independent product fission yields with the experimental results and with the neutron-rich fission product data measured with a Penning trap at the Accelerator Laboratory of the University of Jyväskylä (JYFLTRAP).

A new method to measure the fission product independent yields employing the ion guide technique and a Penning trap as a precision mass filter, which allows an unambiguous identification of the nuclides is presented. The method was used to determine the independent yields in the proton-induced fission of 232Th and 238U at 25 MeV. The data were analyzed with the consistent model for description of the fission product formation cross section at the projectile energies up to 100 MeV. Pre-compound nucleon emission is described with the two-component exciton model using Monte Carlo method. Decay of excited compound nuclei is treated within time-dependent statistical model with inclusion of the nuclear friction effect. The charge distribution of the primary fragment isobaric chain was considered as a result of frozen quantal fluctuations of the isovector nuclear density. The theoretical predictions of the independent fission product cross sections are used for normalization of the measured fission product isotopic distributions.

The main goal of the upgrade project of the IGISOL was to increase the yields of the mass-separated reaction products. The first tests showed that the goal was met. Typically, the yields normalized to the primary beam intensity are at least three times higher than before the upgrade. In addition, we have started a project to selectively laser ionize neutral atoms in the gas jet emerging from the ion guide and guide the photo-ions with a radiofrequency ion trap to the acceleration stage of the isotope separator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have performed new accurate measurements of the beta-delayed neutron emission probability for ten isotopes of the elements Y, Sb, Te and I. These are fission products that either have a significant contribution to the fraction of delayed neutrons in reactors or are relatively close to the path of the astrophysical r process. The measurements were performed with isotopically pure radioactive beams using a constant and high efficiency neutron counter and a low noise beta detector. Preliminary results are presented for six of the isotopes and compared with previous measurements and theoretical calculations.

A series of beta decay experiments on nuclei near the Z = N line has been performed using the ISOL technique at the IGISOL facility in Jyväskylä and at ISOLDE, CERN. The decay properties of these neutron-deficient nuclei are important in astrophysics as well as in the studies of isospin symmetry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have studied the structure of even-even cadmium isotopes via beta decay of ground and excited isomeric states of parent silver isotopes. Measurements of mass A = 116, 118 and 120 cadmium nuclides were carried out at an ion guide isotope separation on-line facility at the University of Jyväskylä. Decay schemes of 116mAg, 118mAg, 120gAg and 120mAg are considerably extended. Obtained data have enabled extension of available systematics of the three-phonon states to more neutron-rich cadmium nuclei. As a continuation we have conducted an experiment at ISOLDE, CERN to study heavier A = 122, 124, and 126 cadmium nuclides, the analysis of the collected data is underway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]