Semi-Empirical Estimation of B-Strength Functions and Delayed Neutron Emission Probabilities

A semi-empirical method of estimating the B-strength function from data on three neighbouring nuclides, which was originally devised for a special class of nuclei, is applied to a wider class of odd-mass nuclei. When good experimental data are available on the neighbouring nuclides, the estimated B-strength functions generally reproduce the trend of experimental ones fairly well, although a serious discrepancy is found for 49Ca suggesting the inadequacy of this method near the doubly closed shell. Delayed neutron emission probabilities are calculated with use of the estimated B-strength functions. An agreement with experiment within a factor of two is obtained provided that the B-strength function is based on good input data on the neighbouring nuclides.