Determination of β -decay feeding patterns of Rb 88 and Kr 88 using the Modular Total Absorption Spectrometer at ORNL HRIBF

Authors

P. Shuai, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
B. C. Rasco, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
K. P. Rykaczewski, ORNL Physics Division
A. Fijałkowska, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
M. Karny, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
M. Wolińska-Cichocka, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
R. K. Grzywacz, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
C. J. Gross, ORNL Physics Division
D. W. Stracener, ORNL Physics Division
E. F. Zganjar, Louisiana State University
J. C. Batchelder, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
J. C. Blackmon, Louisiana State University
N. T. Brewer, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
S. Go, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
M. Cooper, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
K. C. Goetz, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
J. W. Johnson, ORNL Physics Division
C. U. Jost, ORNL Physics Division
T. T. King, ORNL Physics Division
J. T. Matta, ORNL Physics Division
J. H. Hamilton, Vanderbilt University
A. Laminack, ORNL Physics Division
K. Miernik, University of Warsaw
M. Madurga, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
D. Miller, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
C. D. Nesaraja, ORNL Physics Division
S. Padgett, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
S. V. Paulauskas, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
M. M. Rajabali, Tennessee Technological University
T. Ruland, Louisiana State University
M. Stepaniuk, University of Warsaw
E. H. Wang, Vanderbilt University
J. A. Winger, Mississippi State University

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-1-2022

Abstract

Precise determination of ground-state feeding in the β decay of fission products is an important but challenging component in modeling reactor antineutrino flux and reactor decay heat. The Modular Total Absorption Spectrometer (MTAS) is a versatile NaI(Tl) detector array that determines the true β-decay pattern free from the pandemonium effect, including precise ground-state feeding intensities. In this paper, we report MTAS results of the β feeding intensities of Rb88 and Kr88, fission products with large cumulative yields in nuclear reactors. By comparing MTAS results with previous measurements, Rb88 provides a validation of MTAS's ability to determine ground-state feedings in β decays, while the precision of Kr88 ground-state feeding is improved when compared with the Evaluated Nuclear Structure Data File (ENSDF). The investigation of sources that contribute to β feeding branching uncertainties in MTAS experiments is discussed in detail. Lastly, the deconvolution of Rb88 decay spectra suggests that MTAS can distinguish an allowed β spectral shape from a first forbidden unique β spectral shape.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Physical Review C

Recommended Citation

Shuai, P., Rasco, B., Rykaczewski, K., Fijałkowska, A., Karny, M., Wolińska-Cichocka, M., Grzywacz, R., Gross, C., Stracener, D., Zganjar, E., Batchelder, J., Blackmon, J., Brewer, N., Go, S., Cooper, M., Goetz, K., Johnson, J., Jost, C., King, T., Matta, J., Hamilton, J., Laminack, A., Miernik, K., Madurga, M., Miller, D., Nesaraja, C., Padgett, S., Paulauskas, S., Rajabali, M., Ruland, T., Stepaniuk, M., Wang, E., & Winger, J. (2022). Determination of β -decay feeding patterns of Rb 88 and Kr 88 using the Modular Total Absorption Spectrometer at ORNL HRIBF. Physical Review C, 105 (5) https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.105.054312