A Spike of ⁹⁸₄₂Mo in Yields of Uranium Spontaneous Fission An Extension of Shell Structure Effect

Abstract

The investigations of the isotopic abundance ratios of molybdenum in zircon have shown that the molybdenum isotopic composition obtained reflects two effects: (1) spontaneous fission of ²³⁸₉₂U contained in the zircon and (2) double beta decay of ⁹⁶₄₀Zr. Interestingly, however, the products due to the spontaneous fission appear to have a strange large excess (spike) of ⁹⁸₄₂Mo. It intrigues us that 92 minus 42 leaves 50, one of the outstanding magic numbers. It is suggested in the present communication that the strange spike of ⁹⁸₄₂Mo in question can result from a special type of sontaneous fission having essential bearings on the magic number 50 of protons and the “magical” numbers 58 and 92 of neutrons.