Indirect determination of the {sup 230}Th(n,f) and {sup 231}Th(n,f) cross sections for thorium-based nuclear energy systems

Journal Article · Thu Oct 15 04:00:00 EDT 2009 · Physical Review. C, Nuclear Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVC.80.044610· OSTI ID:21293958

Goldblum, B L; Stroberg, S R; Angell, C; Swanberg, E ^[1]; Allmond, J M ^[2]; Bernstein, L A; Bleuel, D L; Burke, J T; Scielzo, N D; Wiedeking, M ^[3]; Gibelin, J ^[4]; Phair, L ^[5]; Norman, E B ^[1]

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1. Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720 (United States)
2. Department of Physics, University of Richmond, Virginia 23173 (United States)
3. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551 (United States)
4. GANIL (DSM-CEA/IN2P3-CNRS), B. P. 55027, F-14076 Caen Cedex 5 (France)
5. Nuclear Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720 (United States)

The surrogate ratio method (SRM) was employed in the first experimental determination of the {sup 231}Th(n,f) cross section, relative to the {sup 235}U(n,f) cross section, over an equivalent neutron energy range of 360 keV to 10 MeV. The {sup 230}Th(n,f) cross section was also deduced using the SRM, relative to the {sup 234}U(n,f) cross section, over an equivalent neutron energy range of 220 keV to 25 MeV. The desired compound nuclei were populated using ({sup 3}He,{sup 3}He') and ({sup 3}He,{alpha}) reactions on targets of {sup 232}Th and {sup 236}U and relative fission decay probabilities were measured. The surrogate {sup 230,231}Th(n,f) cross sections were compared to cross section evaluations and directly-measured experimental data, where available.

• OSTI ID: 21293958
• Journal Information: Physical Review. C, Nuclear Physics, Journal Name: Physical Review. C, Nuclear Physics Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 80; ISSN 0556-2813; ISSN PRVCAN
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
CALIBRATION STANDARDS
COMPOUND NUCLEI
CROSS SECTIONS
DECAY
EVALUATION
FISSION
HELIUM 3
KEV RANGE 100-1000
MEV RANGE 01-10
NEUTRON REACTIONS
NEUTRONS
NUCLEAR ENERGY
PROBABILITY
THORIUM
THORIUM 230
THORIUM 231
THORIUM 232
URANIUM 234
URANIUM 235
URANIUM 236