( $\mathit{\alpha }$ ,n) reactions in oxide compounds calculated from the R-matrix theory

Journal Article · Wed Sep 11 00:00:00 EDT 2019 · Progress in Nuclear Energy

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnucene.2019.103130· OSTI ID:1561662

Pigni, Marco T.  ^[1]; Gauld, Ian C.  ^[1]; Croft, Stephen ^[1]

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1. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

In this paper, we present an analysis of the neutron yield and energy distribution of neutron source terms generated from the interaction of α-particles with ^17,18O nuclei in fissile actinide compounds. When compared with measured data, the neutron yield and energy distribution data calculated for several isotopic configurations are used to validate the energy-dependent ^17,18O(α,n) cross sections modeled by a set of resonance parameters based on the Reich-Moore approximation of the R-matrix theory. Lastly, the present analysis shows the fundamental importance of the partial contribution of the (α,n) cross sections to each excited state in determining the shape and magnitude of the calculated neutron spectra as a function of the emerging neutrons.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 1561662
• Journal Information: Progress in Nuclear Energy, Vol. 118, Issue C; ISSN 0149-1970
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
Nuclear data
R-matrix theory
Neutron yield
Neutron energy spectra