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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
general
Angular momentum generation in nuclear fission
Nature, Volume 590, No. 7847, Year 2021
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Description
When a heavy atomic nucleus splits (fission), the resulting fragments are observed to emerge spinning1; this phenomenon has been a mystery in nuclear physics for over 40 years2,3. The internal generation of typically six or seven units of angular momentum in each fragment is particularly puzzling for systems that start with zero, or almost zero, spin. There are currently no experimental observations that enable decisive discrimination between the many competing theories for the mechanism that generates the angular momentum4–12. Nevertheless, the consensus is that excitation of collective vibrational modes generates the intrinsic spin before the nucleus splits (pre-scission). Here we show that there is no significant correlation between the spins of the fragment partners, which leads us to conclude that angular momentum in fission is actually generated after the nucleus splits (post-scission). We present comprehensive data showing that the average spin is strongly mass-dependent, varying in saw-tooth distributions. We observe no notable dependence of fragment spin on the mass or charge of the partner nucleus, confirming the uncorrelated post-scission nature of the spin mechanism. To explain these observations, we propose that the collective motion of nucleons in the ruptured neck of the fissioning system generates two independent torques, analogous to the snapping of an elastic band. A parameterization based on occupation of angular momentum states according to statistical theory describes the full range of experimental data well. This insight into the role of spin in nuclear fission is not only important for the fundamental understanding and theoretical description of fission, but also has consequences for the γ-ray heating problem in nuclear reactors13,14, for the study of the structure of neutron-rich isotopes15,16, and for the synthesis and stability of super-heavy elements17,18. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.
Authors & Co-Authors
Wilson, Jonathan N.
France, Paris
In2p3 - Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique Des Particules
Thisse, Damien
France, Paris
In2p3 - Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique Des Particules
Lebois, Matthieu
France, Paris
In2p3 - Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique Des Particules
Jovančević, Nikola
France, Paris
In2p3 - Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique Des Particules
Gjestvang, D.
Norway, Oslo
Universitetet I Oslo
Canavan, Rhiann L.
United Kingdom, Guildford
University of Surrey
United Kingdom, Middlesex
National Physical Laboratory
Rüdigier, Matthias
United Kingdom, Guildford
University of Surrey
Germany, Darmstadt
Technische Universität Darmstadt
Etasse, David
France, Caen
Laboratoire de Physique Corpusculaire de Caen Lpcc
Gerst, R. B.
Germany, Koln
Universität zu Köln
Gaudefroy, Laurent
France
Cea Dam
Adamska, E.
Poland, Warsaw
University of Warsaw
Adsley, Philip
France, Paris
In2p3 - Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique Des Particules
Algora, A.
Spain, Paterna
Csic-uv - Instituto de Física Corpuscular
Hungary, Debrecen
Atommagkutató Intézet
Babo, M.
France, Paris
In2p3 - Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique Des Particules
Belvedere, K.
United Kingdom, Guildford
University of Surrey
Benito, J.
Spain, Madrid
Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Benzoni, Giovanna
Italy, Milan
Istituto Nazionale Di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione Di Milano
Blazhev, Andrey
Germany, Koln
Universität zu Köln
Boso, A.
United Kingdom, Middlesex
National Physical Laboratory
Bottoni, Simone
Italy, Milan
Istituto Nazionale Di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione Di Milano
Italy, Milan
Università Degli Studi Di Milano
Bunce, Michael R.
United Kingdom, Middlesex
National Physical Laboratory
Chakma, R.
France, Paris
In2p3 - Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique Des Particules
Cieplicka-Oryńczak, Natalia
Poland, Warszawa
Polish Academy of Sciences
Courtin, Sandrine
France, Strasbourg
Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien
Cortés, M. L.
Japan, Wako
Riken
Davies, Paul John
United Kingdom, Manchester
The University of Manchester
Delafosse, C.
France, Paris
In2p3 - Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique Des Particules
Fallot, Muriel
France, Nantes
Imt Atlantique
Fornal, Bogdan
Poland, Warszawa
Polish Academy of Sciences
Fraile, Luis Mario
Spain, Madrid
Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Gottardo, Andrea
Italy, Legnaro
Laboratori Nazionali Di Legnaro
Guadilla, V.
France, Nantes
Imt Atlantique
Hafner, Guillaume
France, Paris
In2p3 - Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique Des Particules
Germany, Koln
Universität zu Köln
Hauschild, K.
France, Paris
In2p3 - Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique Des Particules
Heine, Marcel
France, Strasbourg
Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien
Henrich, Corinna
Germany, Darmstadt
Technische Universität Darmstadt
Homm, Ilja
Germany, Darmstadt
Technische Universität Darmstadt
Ibrahim, Fadi
France, Paris
In2p3 - Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique Des Particules
Iskra, Ł. W.
Italy, Milan
Istituto Nazionale Di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione Di Milano
Poland, Warszawa
Polish Academy of Sciences
Korgul, A.
Poland, Warsaw
University of Warsaw
Koseoglou, P.
Germany, Darmstadt
Technische Universität Darmstadt
Germany, Darmstadt
Gsi Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research Gmbh
Kröll, Thorsten
Germany, Darmstadt
Technische Universität Darmstadt
Kurtukian-Nieto, Teresa
France, Gradignan
Lp2i - Laboratoire de Physique Des Deux Infinis Bordeaux
Le-Meur, L.
France, Nantes
Imt Atlantique
Leoni, Silvia
Italy, Milan
Istituto Nazionale Di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione Di Milano
Italy, Milan
Università Degli Studi Di Milano
Ljungvall, Joa
France, Paris
In2p3 - Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique Des Particules
Lopez-Martens, Araceli P.
France, Paris
In2p3 - Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique Des Particules
Lozeva, Radomira L.
France, Paris
In2p3 - Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique Des Particules
Matéa, Iolanda
France, Paris
In2p3 - Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique Des Particules
Miernik, Krzysztof
Poland, Warsaw
University of Warsaw
Nemer, J.
France, Paris
In2p3 - Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique Des Particules
Oberstedt, Stephan
Belgium, Brussels
European Commission
Paulsen, W.
Norway, Oslo
Universitetet I Oslo
Piersa, Mirosław
Poland, Warsaw
University of Warsaw
Popovitch, Y.
France, Paris
In2p3 - Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique Des Particules
Porzio, Carlotta
Italy, Milan
Istituto Nazionale Di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione Di Milano
Italy, Milan
Università Degli Studi Di Milano
Canada, Vancouver
Triumf
Qi, Liqiang
France, Paris
In2p3 - Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique Des Particules
Ralet, Damien
France, Caen
Ganil Grand Accelerateur National D'ions Lourds
Regan, Patrick Henry
United Kingdom, Guildford
University of Surrey
United Kingdom, Middlesex
National Physical Laboratory
Rezynkina, K.
Belgium, Leuven
Ku Leuven
Sánchez-Tembleque, Víctor
Spain, Madrid
Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Siem, Sunniva
Norway, Oslo
Universitetet I Oslo
Schmitt, Christelle
France, Strasbourg
Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien
Söderström, P. A.
Germany, Darmstadt
Technische Universität Darmstadt
Romania, Magurele
Horia Hulubei National Institute for R&d in Physics and Nuclear Engineering
Sürder, Christian
Germany, Darmstadt
Technische Universität Darmstadt
Tocabens, G.
France, Paris
In2p3 - Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique Des Particules
Vedia, V.
Spain, Madrid
Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Verney, David
France, Paris
In2p3 - Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique Des Particules
Warr, Nigel V.
Germany, Koln
Universität zu Köln
Wasilewska, B.
Poland, Warszawa
Polish Academy of Sciences
Wiederhold, J.
Germany, Darmstadt
Technische Universität Darmstadt
Yavahchova, Mariya S.
Bulgaria, Sofia
The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Zeiser, Fabio
Norway, Oslo
Universitetet I Oslo
Ziliani, S.
Italy, Milan
Istituto Nazionale Di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione Di Milano
Italy, Milan
Università Degli Studi Di Milano
Statistics
Citations: 39
Authors: 74
Affiliations: 28
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1038/s41586-021-03304-w
ISSN:
00280836
Research Areas
Cancer