Multiplicity and correlated energy of gamma rays emitted in the spontaneous fission of californium-252

An array of eight high-speed plastic scintillation detectors has been used to infer a mathematical model for the emission multiplicity of prompt gammas in the spontaneous fission of 252Cf. Exceptional time resolution and coincidence capability permitted the separation of gammas from fast neutrons over a flight path of approximately 10 cm. About 20 different distribution models were tested. The average energy of the prompt gammas is inversely related to the number emitted; however, this inverse relationship is not strong and the total gamma energy does increase with increasing gamma number. An extension of the experiment incorporated a lithium-drifted germanium gamma spectrometer that resolved nearly 100 discrete gammas associated with fission in which few gammas were emitted. Certain others were more frequent when many gammas were emitted