ORIGIN OF PROTONS IN CF-252 FISSION/ FISSION

Protons from **2**5**2Cf fission have been studied to determine their origin by using a DELTA E, E detector particle telescope. Both fission- and nonfission-related events are discussed as possible sources of the observed proton energy spectrum. The increased yield of low-energy protons, which peak at approximately 3. 2 MeV, seems to be due mainly to background ( alpha p) reactions. Evidence of polar proton emission is discussed and gives an estimated polar proton emission yield of 2. 83 plus or minus 0. 18 multiplied by 10** minus **5 per fission, with a most probable energy of 10. 0 plus or minus 0. 2 MeV and full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) of 7. 6 plus or minus 0. 2 MeV. The yield of tripartition fission-related protons was then estimated to be 3. 50 plus or minus 0. 20 multiplied by 10** minus **5 per fission, with a most probable energy of 6. 6 plus or minus 0. 2 MeV and an FWHM of 7. 0 plus or minus 0. 2 MeV.