(d, p) Reactions in Deformed Heavy Nuclei

The spectra of protons from ($d, p$) nuclear reactions initiated by 11-Mev deuterons incident on ${\mathrm{Th}}^{232}$, ${\mathrm{U}}^{233}$, ${\mathrm{U}}^{235}$, ${\mathrm{U}}^{238}$, and ${\mathrm{Pu}}^{239}$ have been obtained using separated isotopic targets. The protons were analyzed in a double-focusing magnetic spectrometer. States with assignments known from radioactive-decay studies are identified and assignments for some other observed states are discussed using the Nilsson model and Satchler's theory of ($d, p$) reactions in deformed nuclei. From an analysis of the results the following binding energies of the last neutron are obtained: ${\mathrm{U}}^{234}$, 6.83±0.11 Mev; ${\mathrm{U}}^{239}$, 4.74±0.06 Mev; and ${\mathrm{Pu}}^{240}$, 6.49±0.05 Mev.