High precision measurements of a weak interaction decay were conducted to search for possible variation of the decay rate parameter caused by an antineutrino flux. The experiment searched for variation of the ⁵⁴Mn electron capture decay rate parameter to a level of precision of 1 part in ∼10⁵ by comparing the difference between the decay rate in the presence of an antineutrino flux ∼3×10¹² cm^-2sec^-1 and no flux measurements. The experiment is located 6.5 meters from the reactor core of the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) in Oak Ridge National Laboratory. A measurement to this level of precision requires a detailed understanding of both systematic and statistical errors. Otherwise, systematic errors in the measurement may mimic fundamental interactions. <div><br></div><div>The gamma spectrum has been collected from the electron capture decay of ⁵⁴Mn. What differs in this experiment compared to previous experiments are, (1) a strong, uniform, highly controlled, and repeatable source of antineutrino flux, using a reactor, nearly 50 times higher than the solar neutrino flux on the Earth, (2) the variation of the antineutrino flux from HFIR is 600 times higher than the variation in the solar neutrino flux on the Earth, (3) the extensive use of neutron and gamma-ray shielding around the detectors, (4) a controlled environment for the detector including a fixed temperature, a nitrogen atmosphere, and stable power supplies, (5) the use of precision High Purity Germanium (HPGe) detectors and finally, (6) accurate time stamping of all experimental runs. By using accurate detector energy calibrations, electronic dead time corrections, background corrections, and pile-up corrections, the measured variation in the ⁵⁴Mn decay rate parameter is found to be δλ/λ=(0.034±1.38)×10^-5. This measurement in the presence of the HFIR flux is equivalent to a cross-section of σ=(0.097±1.24)×10^-25cm². These results are consistent with no measurable decay rate parameter variation due to an antineutrino flux, yielding a 68% confidence level upper limit sensitivity in δλ/λ <= 1.43×10^-5 or σ<=1.34×10^-25cm² in cross-section. The cross-section upper limit obtained in this null or no observable effect experiment is ∼10⁴ times more sensitive than past experiments reporting positive results in ⁵⁴Mn.</div>

It is important to have a method of experimentally calculating fission product yields. Statistical calculations and simulations produce very large uncertainties. Experimental calculations, depending on the methods used, tend to produce lower uncertainties. This work set up a method to calculate fission product yields using gamma ray spectroscopy. In order to produce a method that was theoretically sound, a simulation was set up using OrigenArp to calculate theoretical concentrations of fission products from the irradiation of natural uranium. From these concentrations, the fission product yields were calculated to verify that they would agree with expected values. Moving forward in the work, the total flux at the point of irradiation, in the pneumatic transfer system, was calculated and determined to be 3.9070E+11 ± 6.9570E+10 n/cm^2/s at 100 kW. Once the flux was calculated, the method for calculating fission product yields was implemented and yields were calculated for 10 fission products. The yields calculated were in very good agreement (within 10.04%) with expected values taken from the ENDF-349 library. This method has strong potential in nuclear forensics as it can provide a means for developing a library of experimentally-determined fission product yields, as well as rapid post-nuclear detonation analysis. / text

L’apparition de la segmentation électrique des détecteurs au GeHP et de l’électronique numérique a ouvert la voie à des applications prometteuses, telles que le tracking γ, l’imagerie γ ou la mesure bas bruit de fond, pour lesquelles une connaissance fine de la réponse du détecteur est un atout. L’IPHC a développé une table de scan utilisant un faisceau collimaté, qui sonde la réponse d’un détecteur dans tout son volume en fonction de la localisation de l’interaction. Elle est conçue pour utiliser une technique innovante de scan 3D, le Pulse Shape Comparison Scan, qui a été d’abord simulée afin de démontrer son efficacité. Un détecteur AGATA a été scanné de manière approfondie. Des scan 2D classiques ont permis, entre autres, de mettre en évidence des effets locaux de modification de la collection des charges, liés à la segmentation. Pour la première fois, une base de données 3D, complète, de formes d’impulsions fonction de la position d’interaction a été établie. Elle permettra notamment d’améliorer les performances du spectromètre AGATA. / Recent developments of electrical segmentation of HPGe detectors, coupled with digital electronics have led to promising applications such as γ-ray tracking, γ-ray imaging or low-background measurements which will benefit from a fine knowledge of the detector response. The IPHC has developed a new scanning table which uses a collimated γ-ray beam to investigate the detector response as a function of the location of the γ-ray interaction. It is designed to use the Pulse Shape Comparison Scan technique, which has been simulated in order to prove its efficiency. An AGATA detector has been thoroughly scanned. 2D classical scans brought out, for example, local charge collection modification effects such as charge sharing, due to the segmentation. For the first time, a 3D, complete pulse-shape database has been established. It will especially allow to improve the overall AGATA array performances.