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Sealed 252Cf sources in the microCurie to milliCurie range are routinely used in industry and research. At present, no reliable analytical method is available for precise determination of the activity. Very strong sources can be analyzed by neutron counting but the error is large. We propose to use γ-ray spectroscopy for such analysis. In particular, high-energy γ rays (above 1MeV) of fission fragments in equilibrium with the source are very convenient because they have little absorption in materials surrounding the source. It is found that the 1435.8-keV γ-ray of 138Cs and the 1596.5-keV γ-ray of 140La are well isolated and sufficiently above the background under these peaks. We have measured the γ/α ratio for the 252Cf with an uncertainty of better than 5%. The experiment involved the preparation of several thin 252Cf sources, alpha pulse height analysis, determination of α decay rate, and the measurement of γ singles spectrum with a well-shielded germanium spectrometer. The measured ratio and the γ-ray spectroscopy of unknown samples can provide the activity of 252Cf in these samples. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Numerical solutions are presented for forced spatially developing axisymmetric and twodimensional mixing layers. The numerical scheme employs quadratic upwind differencing for convection and a Leith type of temporal differencing in order to solve the incompressible NavierStokes and continuity equations. The applied forcing function is derived from linear inviscid stability theory. The resulting large-scale vortex dynamics is visualized by means of streakline and isovorticity contour plots. It is seen that the vortex merging behavior in both types of mixing layers is determined by the subharmonics present in the forcing function. Manipulation of the vortex dynamics in a predictable fashion is possible through alterations in the frequency content of this applied forcing. Reynolds number is shown to be of only minor importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a comparison of mirror symmetry in the A = 23, T = 1/2 mirror nuclei 23Na and 23Mg both to high spin, and high excitation energy, including beyond the proton threshold. Excited states in the region above the proton threshold have been studied in both nuclei. It presents methods of obtaining reaction rates for nuclear astrophysics. It concludes that estimated data of shell model calculations can be used if real data is not available.

Multi-quasiparticle high-K states, several of which are isomeric, were observed in 180Hf with the Gammasphere array. Lifetimes in the ns-μs range were determined using centroid-shift and decay measurements within a μs coincidence time window. The configurations of high-K states involve two and four quasiparticles, with states up to Kπ=(18-) established. High-K excitations are found to be progressively more favored with increasing excitation energy. The K quantum number is quite robust up to the highest spins observed, as evidenced by the large values of the reduced hindrance for isomeric decays. Rotational bands built on three high-K states are identified, and the measured branching ratios in these sequences enable the assignment of underlying configurations. Multi-quasiparticle calculations using the Lipkin-Nogami approach for pairing, with blocking included, reproduce the observed high-K energies quite well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new measurement of the beta-delayed alpha decay of 16N has been performed using a set of high efficiency ionization chambers. Sources were made by implantation of a 16N beam, yielding very clean alpha spectra down to energies as low as 400 keV. Our data are in good agreement with earlier results. For the S factor S(E1), we obtain a value of 74 +/- 21 keV b. In spite of improvements in the measurement, the error in S(E1) remains relatively large because of the correlations among the fit parameters and the uncertainties inherent to the extrapolation.

We have identified two isomers in 254No, built on two- and four-quasiparticle excitations, with quantum numbers K pi = 8- and (14+), as well as a low-energy 2-quasiparticle Kpi = 3+ state. The occurrence of isomers establishes that K is a good quantum number and therefore that the nucleus has an axial prolate shape. The 2-quasiparticle states probe the energies of the proton levels that govern the stability of superheavy nuclei, test 2-quasiparticle energies from theory, and thereby check their predictions of magic gaps.

Coulomb activation of the four quasiparticle Kpi=16+ 178Hf isomer (t1/2=31 y) has led to the measurement of a set of Elamda matrix elements coupling the isomer band to the ground band. The present data combined with earlier 178 Hf Coulomb excitation data have probed the components in the wave functions and revealed the onset and saturation of K mixing in low-K bands, whereas the mixing is negligible in the high-K bands. The implications can be applied to other quadrupole-deformed nuclei.

Understanding the processes which create and destroy 22Na is important for diagnosing classical nova outbursts. Conventional 22Na(p,gamma) studies are complicated by the need to employ radioactive targets. In contrast, we have formed the particle-unbound states of interest through the heavy-ion fusion reaction, 12C(12C,n)23Mg and used the Gammasphere array to investigate their radiative decay branches. Detailed spectroscopy was possible and the 22Na(p,gamma) reaction rate has been reevaluated. New hydrodynamical calculations incorporating the upper and lower limits on the new rate suggest a reduction in the yield of 22Na with respect to previous estimates, implying a reduction in the maximum detectability distance for 22Na gamma rays from novae.

We have measured the total energy of the alpha particles following the beta decay of 8B by implanting 8B into a planar silicon surface barrier detector. Calibration was performed using alpha particles following the beta decay of 20Na, similarly implanted. The alpha spectrum is used to infer the 8B neutrino spectrum which is an important input in the interpretation of experiments that detect energetic neutrinos from the Sun. The alpha spectrum reported here is in disagreement with the previous best measurement which used two detectors in coincidence.

Enhanced decay of the 31-yr isomer of (178)Hf induced by x-ray irradiation has been reported previously. Here we describe an attempt to reproduce this result with an intense "white" x-ray beam from the Advanced Photon Source. No induced decay was observed. The upper limits for the energy-integrated cross sections for such a process, over the range of energies of 20--60 keV x rays, are less than 2 x 10(-27) cm(2) keV, below the previously reported values by more than 5 orders of magnitude; at 8 keV the limit is 5 x 10(-26) cm(2) keV.