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fragmentkernen

Fragmentkernen is a term used in nuclear physics to refer to the nuclei produced as fragments when a heavier nucleus breaks apart in a reaction. These fragmentkernen arise primarily in two classes of processes: fission and fragmentation (or spallation) reactions.

In fission, a heavy nucleus such as uranium-235 splits into two lighter fragmentkernen along with prompt neutrons.

Measurement and identification of fragmentkernen rely on determining their mass-to-charge ratio, energy loss, and time of

Applications and significance include mapping the nuclear landscape, investigating neutron-proton ratios, and producing rare isotopes for

See also fission fragments, projectile fragmentation, spallation, isotopes.

In
projectile
fragmentation,
a
high-energy
heavy-ion
projectile
collides
with
a
target
and
breaks
into
a
spectrum
of
lighter
fragmentkernen.
The
resulting
fragments
cover
a
wide
range
of
mass
and
charge
and
typically
carry
substantial
kinetic
energy.
Many
fragmentkernen
are
radioactive
with
varying
half-lives,
and
their
study
often
requires
rapid
separation
and
detection.
flight.
Experimental
setups
frequently
employ
magnetic
spectrometers,
fragment
separators,
and
detectors
that
discriminate
isotopes
by
their
A
(mass
number)
and
Z
(proton
number).
Knowledge
of
the
distribution
of
fragmentkernen
as
a
function
of
A
and
Z
informs
models
of
nuclear
structure
and
reaction
mechanisms.
basic
research.
Fragmentkernen
data
are
relevant
to
nuclear
astrophysics,
reactor
physics,
and
the
development
of
radioactive
ion-beam
facilities
used
in
fundamental
studies
of
exotic
nuclei.