Estimation of (n,f) cross sections by measuring reaction probability ratios

Journal Article · Sun May 01 04:00:00 EDT 2005 · Physical Review. C, Nuclear Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.71.051602· OSTI ID:20698640

Plettner, C; Ai, H; Amro, H; Caggiano, J A; Casten, R F; Heinz, A; McCutchan, E A; Qian, J; Ressler, J J; Williams, E ^[1]; Beausang, C W ^[1]; Bernstein, L A; Ahle, L; Burke, J T; Church, J A; Cooper, J R; Moody, K; Punyon, J A; Younes, W ^[2]; Babilon, M ^[1]

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1. A.W. Wright Nuclear Structure Laboratory, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511 (United States)
2. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550 (United States)

Neutron-induced reaction cross sections on unstable nuclei are inherently difficult to measure due to target activity and the low intensity of neutron beams. In an alternative approach, named the 'surrogate' technique, one measures the decay probability of the same compound nucleus produced using a stable beam on a stable target to estimate the neutron-induced reaction cross section. As an extension of the surrogate method, in this paper we introduce a new technique of measuring the fission probabilities of two different compound nuclei as a ratio, which has the advantage of removing most of the systematic uncertainties. This method was benchmarked in this report by measuring the probability of deuteron-induced fission events in coincidence with protons, and forming the ratio P[{sup 236}U(d,pf)]/P[{sup 238}U(d,pf)], which serves as a surrogate for the known cross section ratio of {sup 236}U(n,f)/{sup 238}U(n,f). In addition, the P[{sup 238}U(d,d{sup '}f)]/P[{sup 236}U(d,d{sup '}f)] ratio as a surrogate for the {sup 237}U(n,f)/{sup 235}U(n,f) cross section ratio was measured for the first time in an unprecedented range of excitation energies.

• OSTI ID: 20698640
• Journal Information: Physical Review. C, Nuclear Physics, Journal Name: Physical Review. C, Nuclear Physics Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 71; ISSN 0556-2813; ISSN PRVCAN
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
COMPOUND NUCLEI
CROSS SECTIONS
DEUTERON REACTIONS
DEUTERONS
EXCITATION
FISSION
NEUTRON REACTIONS
NUCLEAR DECAY
PROBABILITY
PROTONS
URANIUM 235
URANIUM 236
URANIUM 237
URANIUM 238