Fission resonances observed in the $$^{237}$$Np(d,pf) reaction and the fission barrier topology of $$^{238}$$Np

Abstract The fission probability of $$^{238}$$ 238 Np was measured as a function the excitation energy in range E $$^* = 5.4 - 6.2$$ ? = 5.4 - 6.2 MeV order to search for transmission resonances. A radioactive $$^{237}$$ 237 target bombarded with deuterons $$_d$$ d 12 MeV, whereas protons analyzed superior resolution $$\varDelta $$ ? 8 keV. experiment performed at Tandem accelerator Maier-Leibnitz Laboratory Garching employing Np(d,pf) reaction. group resonances has been observed energies between 5.5 5.8$$ 5.5 5.8 which could be ordered into three (superdeformed) rotational bands parameter $$\hbar ^2/2\varTheta 3.507$$ ? 2 / ? 3.507 keV, and identified first direct observation transition states composing an odd-odd nucleus they appear above top outer barrier. Nuclear reaction code ( talys1.95 ) calculations were also extract multi-humped barrier parameters by fitting them experimental data present (d,pf) previous (n,f) experiments. extracted support interpretation