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Title: Measurements of the energy dependence of prompt neutron emission from /sup 233/U, /sup 235/U, and /sup 239/Pu for E/sub n/ = 0. 0005 to 10 MeV relative to emission from spontaneous fission of /sup 252/Cf

Journal Article · · Nucl. Sci. Eng.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6921153

A series of experiments was performed to measure the dependence on the incident neutron energy of the average number of prompt neutrons emitted per fission from /sup 233/U, /sup 235/U, and /sup 239/Pu relative to the average number of prompt neutrons emitted in spontaneous fission of /sup 252/Cf. the incident neutron energy range was 0.0005 to 10 MeV. A white neutron source was generated by the Oak Ridge Electron Linear Accelerator, and the energies of the neutrons incident on the fissile samples were determined by time-of-flight techniques. In each experiment the samples, including the /sup 252/Cf standard, were contained in a fission chamber surrounded by a large volume (0.91 m/sup 3/) of liquid scintillator loaded with gadolinium. The fission chamber detected the fission events, and the scintillator detected the accompanying prompt neutrons. The resulting data were analyzed to yield: R-bar/sub rho/(E) = v-bar/sub rho/(E)(fissile)/v-bar/sub rho/(/sup 252/Cf). For /sup 235/U and /sup 239/Pu the results overlap, within the experimental uncertainty, the results of the evaluation of Manero and Konshin, and in the case of /sup 235/U the data show the same general structure apparent in the evaluation up to 0.5 MeV. Our R-bar/sub rho/(E) for /sup 233/U does not show the structure near 0.2 MeV obtained by Manero and Konshin.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab., Oak Ridge, TN 37831
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-84OR21400
OSTI ID:
6921153
Journal Information:
Nucl. Sci. Eng.; (United States), Vol. 94:4
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English