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INTERPRETATION OF DELAYED NEUTRON PHENOMENA

Journal Article · · J. Nuclear Energy
The Bohr-Weeler mechanism of delayed neutron emission has been used, together with recent fission mass- and charge distribution data, to interpret the observed characteristics of delayed neutrons from fission. This interpretation accounts satisfactorily for recently measured periods and relative abundances of the delayed neutrons from six fissionable nuclides: U/sup 233/, U/sup 235/, U/sup 238/, Pu/sup 239/, Pu/sup 240/, and Th/sup 232/. a set of selection criter ia is developsd which lead to prediction of the most probable main precursors as well as possible contributors for each delayed neutron group. Assuming the most prohable set of delayed neutron precursors, total delayed neutron yields have been calculated for each of the six fissionable nuclides studied. These calculated yields are in agreement with experiment, thus providing a reasonable explanation of the striking variation in observed total delayed neutron yields, which increase by an order of magnitude from Pu/sup 239/ to Th/sup 232/ fissicn. Throughout the analysis, special attention is given to the dominant role of closcd-shell effects in delayed neutron systematics. (auth)
Research Organization:
Los Alamos Scientific Lab., N. Mex.
NSA Number:
NSA-12-016657
OSTI ID:
4297480
Journal Information:
J. Nuclear Energy, Journal Name: J. Nuclear Energy Vol. Vol: 7
Country of Publication:
Country unknown/Code not available
Language:
English