Measurements of gamma-ray emission probabilities in the decay of americium-244g |
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Authors: | Shoji Nakamura Kazushi Terada Atsushi Kimura Taro Nakao Osamu Iwamoto Hideo Harada |
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Affiliation: | 1. Nuclear Science and Engineering Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Naka-gun, Japannakamura.shoji@jaea.go.jp;3. Nuclear Science and Engineering Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Naka-gun, Japan |
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Abstract: | ABSTRACTAccurate data of gamma-ray emission probabilities are frequently needed when one quantitatively determines the amount of isotope by gamma-ray measurements or obtains neutron capture cross-sections using them. Americium-243, one of the most important minor actinides, produces 244Am after neutron capture. The 744-keV gamma-ray decaying from the ground state of 244Am has a relatively large gamma-ray emission probability about 66%; however, its uncertainty is as large as 29%. The uncertainty of the gamma-ray emission probability leads to a major factor of the systematic uncertainty on determining an amount of isotope, and therefore the gamma-ray emission probability was measured by using an activation method and an examined level structure of 244Cm. In this study, the emission probability of 744-keV gamma-ray was derived as 66.5 ± 1.1%, and its uncertainty was improved from 29% to 2%. |
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Keywords: | Gamma-ray emission probability americium-244g americium-243 neutron capture cross section transmutation |
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