Heavy target fragment yields in the interaction of 28 GeV protons with ²³⁸U

Abstract

The yields of target fragments from the interaction of 28 GeV protons with 238U have been measured, with special attention being given to those fragments with 160 ≤ A ≤ 200. From the measured fragment yields, isobarie production cross sections were calculated. Significant yields (σ(A) ~ 1–10 mb) of heavy target fragments (160 ≤ A ≤ 210) were found. These fragments are believed to be the non-fissioning survivors from the population of highly excited residual nuclei produced in the initial p-nucleus collision. A pedagogical calculation of the fission – particle emission competition shows how the initial highly excited heavy nuclei could evaporate ~20–50 particles while surviving fission competition.

Mass yield in high-energy proton-uranium collisions from a complete, microcanonical statistical decay

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