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Title: /sup 238/U issues resolved and unresolved

Conference ·
OSTI ID:7094751

The interaction of 1 eV to 20 MeV neutrons with /sup 238/U is discussed with emphasis on recently resolved and remaining issues relevant to both application need and physical understanding. The apparent inability of older /sup 238/U evaluations to predict the measured /sup 238/U capture rate in thermal critical lattices has stimulated several recent precise measurements of the /sup 238/U cross sections, reanalysis of older data, and improved evaluations. The recent evaluations predict satisfactorily the /sup 238/U capture rate in thermal critical lattices. In the region from 1.5 to 4 keV there are differences of the order of 15%, sometimes larger, between the values of the neutron widths of the main resonances reported by several experimenters or obtained by different evaluators. Above 4 keV there are only sparse results of resonance analysis and most evaluations adopt a statistical treatment of the resonance structure. Some factors affecting the determination of the average properties of the resonance parameters are discussed. Above the inelastic-scattering threshold, energy-averaged neutron total, scattering, capture and fission cross sections are reviewed in a unified manner integrating measurement, calculation and evaluation. (n;n') and (n;2n') energy-transfer mechanisms are addressed. Particular attention is given to neutron capture, stressing precisions consistent with applied need. Fission properties are discussed including: prompt and delayed fission-neutron spectra and nubar, and fission-product yields. Physical understanding is assayed, with attention to compound-nucleus and direct-reaction mechanisms, and applications impact is illustrated in the context of fast-breeder-reactor performance. 95 references.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA); Argonne National Lab., IL (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-26
OSTI ID:
7094751
Report Number(s):
CONF-820942-17; ON: DE82022329; TRN: 82-025694
Resource Relation:
Conference: Nuclear data for science and technology international conference, Antwerp, Belgium, 6 Sep 1982; Other Information: Portions of document are illegible
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English