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Photoneutron and photofission cross sections for /sup 238/U and /sup 232/Th using neutron capture gamma rays

Thesis/Dissertation ·
OSTI ID:6091472

The photofission and total photoneutron cross sections of /sup 238/U and /sup 232/Th have been measured as a function of energy between 4 and 11 MeV. The photons used were those produced in the neutron capture reaction in the Tangential Beam Port Facility of the University of Virginia Reactor. The capture gamma ray sources used were the following: Al, Cr, Co, Cu, Fe, Ni, S, and Ti. A computer code was used to calculate the spectrum of each capture gamma ray beam used in the irradiations. This calculation accounted for the attenuation in the beam and the contribution from neutron capture in Al and H. A second code iteratively solved for the best fit cross section curve for the experimentally obtained yield data. In the total photoneutron measurement, the neutrons were counted with a Halpern type detector containing 4 BF/sub 3/ tubes. The intensity of the beam was determined with LiF thermoluminescent dosimeters. The results agree very well with those of previous studies.

Research Organization:
Virginia Univ., Charlottesville (USA)
OSTI ID:
6091472
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English