Gamma-ray multiplicity measurement of the spontaneous fission of 252Cf in a segmented HPGe/BGO detector array

Coincident γ rays from a 252Cf source were measured using an array of six segmented high-purity germanium (HPGe) Clover detectors each enclosed by 16 bismuth-germanate (BGO) detectors. The detectors were arranged in a cubic pattern around a 1μCi 252Cf source to cover a large solid angle for γray measurement with a reasonable reconstruction of the multiplicity. Neutron multiplicity was determined in certain cases by identifying the prompt γ rays from individual fission fragment pairs. Multiplicity distributions from previous experiments and theoretical models were convolved with the response function of the array and compared to the present results. These results suggest a γray multiplicity spectrum broader than previous measurements and models, and provide no evidence of correlation with neutron multiplicity. © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.