Statistical Mechanics of Discrete Multicomponent Fragmentation

We formulate the statistics of the discrete multicomponent fragmentation event using a methodology borrowed from statistical mechanics. We generate the ensemble of all feasible distributions that can be formed when a single integer multicomponent mass is broken into fixed number of fragments and calculate the combinatorial multiplicity of all distributions in the set. We define random fragmentation by the condition that the probability of distribution be proportional to its multiplicity, and obtain the partition function and the mean distribution in closed form. We then introduce a functional that biases the probability of distribution to produce in a systematic manner fragment distributions that deviate to any arbitrary degree from the random case. We corroborate the results of the theory by Monte Carlo simulation, and demonstrate examples in which components in sieve cuts of the fragment distribution undergo preferential mixing or segregation relative to the parent particle.

Evaluation of DNA degradation and establishment of a degradation analysis model for Lepidoptera specimens

Millions of museum specimens are integral to biodiversity studies; however, DNA degradation may limit the ability to obtain DNA sequences. In this study, a degradation analysis model for Lepidoptera specimens was established. Based on this model, we revealed the characteristics of DNA fragment distribution caused by external DNA damage factors during specimen preservation. We found that the degree of DNA degradation increased over time; DNA degradation of spread and dried adult specimens was significantly higher than that in the folded and formalin-fixed larval specimens. However, the effects of folding wings on DNA degradation and the effects of the preservation method/stage (formalin-fixed larval vs air-dried adult specimens) were different for different species.

Simulations of Fragment Correlations in the Disintegration of Non-Compact Nuclear Configurations

Non-spherical and hollow nuclear configurations have been predicted for intermediate-energy heavy-ion collisions. We have developed a simulation of the emitted heavy fragments in order to establish observables indicative of non-spherical break-up geometries. Starting with a spherical, bubble, spheroidal or a toroidal freeze-out volume configuration, a primary fragment distribution is defined with a given radial collective energy, thermal momentum distribution and intrinsic excitation energy. The outgoing fragments are allowed to propagate along their Coulomb trajectories in a self-consistent manner. Account is taken of the de-excitation of the primary fragments by nucléon and cluster evaporation. Considering 5-fragment partitions, azimuthal distributions and two-fragment correlation functions are constructed and discussed in connection with their associated break-up geometries.

Investigation of the heavy nuclei fission with anomalously high values of the fission fragments total kinetic energy

Binary fission of 232Th and 238U induced by fast neutrons were under intent investigation in the IPPE during recent years. These measurements were performed with a twin ionization chamber with Frisch grids. Signals from the detector were digitized for further processing with a specially developed software. It results in information of kinetic energies, masses, directions and Bragg curves of registered fission fragments. Total statistics of a few million fission events were collected during each experiment. It was discovered that for several combinations of fission fragment masses their total kinetic energy was very close to total free energy of the fissioning system. The probability of such fission events for the fast neutron induced fission was found to be much higher than for spontaneous fission of 252Cf and thermal neutron induced fission of 235U. For experiments with 238U target the energy of incident neutrons were 5 MeV and 6.5 MeV. Close analysis of dependence of fission fragment distribution on compound nucleus excitation energy gave us some explanation of the phenomenon. It could be a process in highly excited compound nucleus which leads the fissioning system from the scission point into the fusion valley with high probability.