SEARCH FOR HIGH-ENERGY GAMMA-RAYS FROM THE SPONTANEOUS FISSION OF CF-252

We have searched for high energy gamma-rays emitted from the spontaneous fission of Cf-252. This search was carried out by two methods: the measurement of high energy gamma-rays in coincidence with fission fragments, and the measurement of high energy gamma-rays in coincidence with any other gamma-ray. The first of these two methods allowed us to establish a direct correlation between high energy gamma-rays and fission fragments. For the fission-fragment/gamma-ray measurement, we were able to set an upper limit at the 95% confidence level of 1.8 x 10(-6) photon per fission for the integrated yield of gamma-rays with an energy greater than 30 MeV. Additionally, we have established an upper limit at the 95% confidence level of 1.0 x 10(-5) photon per fission for the integrated yield of photons with energy greater than 30 MeV from the gamma-gamma-measurement. These results are shown to be consistent with a classical model estimate of the upper limit of gamma-rays produced by a nucleus-nucleus bremsstrahlung process arising from the Coulomb acceleration of the fission fragments.