The study of a new PARRNe experimental area using an electron linac close to the Orsay tandem

The Production of neutron-rich radioactive nuclei through fission is currently prime of research interest for the future radioactive beam facilities. For example in the EURISOL[1] project, photo-fission and fast neutron induced fission are proposed. The photo-fission cross-section for 238U is about 0.16 barn (against 1.6 barn for fast neutrons of 40 MeV) but the conversion electrons/gammas is much more efficient than that of deuterons/neutrons. It was necessary, to test this new method of production, to carry out, in equivalent conditions, an experiment of the type PARRNe-1 using a 50 MeV electron beam. In April 2001, production of fission fragments induced by gammas proved to be successful. Bremsstrahlung gamma rays were produced by the few nA-50 MeV electron beam delivered by the CERN LEP Injector Linac (LIL). This promising alternative has stimulated the study of a new experimental area at IPNO based on an electron Linac close to the Tandem, through a collaboration with LAL and CERN PS groups.