Thermodynamical Properties Of 56Fe

Average nuclear level densities close to the nuclear binding energy in 56Fe and 57Fe are extracted from primary γ‐ray spectra. A step structure is observed in the level density for both isotopes, and is interpreted as breaking of Cooper pairs. Thermal properties of 56Fe are studied within the statistical canonical ensemble. The experimental heat capacity in 56Fe is compared with the theoretical heat capacity calculated within the shell model Monte Carlo approach.