Study of 237Np photonuclear reactions near threshold, induced by gamma rays from thermal neutron capture

The photodisintegration of 237Np has been studied using monochromatic photons produced by thermal neutron capture in several materials. The partial cross sections σ gamma, sub(f) and σ gamma, sub(n) were measured in the energy interval from 5.43 MeV to 10.83 MeV. Analysing the photofission data according to the liquid drop model, the height (E sub(f)) and the curvature ((h/2π)ω) of the simple fission barrier were determined: E sub(f) = (5.9 +- 0.2) MeV and (h/2π)ω = (0.8 +- 0.4) MeV. For the competition between photoneutron emission and fission (GAMMA sub(n) / GAMMA sub(f) a constant value was found (1.28+- 0.15) in the energy range 6.73 - 10.83 MeV. From this result the following nuclear temperatures for 237Np were extracted on bases of some models of levels density: T = 0.84 +- 0.06 MeV (Fujimoto-Yamaguchi model) and T = 0.60 +- 0.04 MeV (Constant Nuclear temperature model). (Author)