The average number of prompt neutrons and the distributions of prompt neutron emission number for spontaneous fission of plutonium-240, curium-242, and curium-244

Journal Article · Thu Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1984 · Nucl. Sci. Eng.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6172410

Huanqiao, Z; Shaoming, L; Shengyue, D; Zuhau, L

(The average number of prompt neutron v /SUB p/ and the distributions of prompt neutron number probability P(v) for spontaneous fission of /sup 240/Pu, /sup 242/Cm, and /sup 244/Cm relative to v /SUB p/ (/sup 252/Cf) have been measured using a large gadolinium-loaded liquid scintillation counter with a coincidence method.)The results were v /SUB p/ (/sup 240/Pu)=2.141+ or 0.016, v /SUB p/ (/sup 242/Cm)=2.562 + or - 0.020, and v /SUB p/ (/sup 244/Cm)= 2.721 + or - 0.021. (The measured distributions of prompt neutron number were fitted with Gaussian curves by a weighted least-squares method.) The widths of Gaussian distribution are 1.149 + or - 0.047, 1.159 + or - 0.074, and 1.175 + or 0.098 for /sup 240/Pu, /sup 242/Cm, and /sup 244/Cm, respectively. (The results as well as a previous measurement of spontaneous fission of /sup 252/Cf show the linear variation of sigma with v /SUB p/ at the first order of approximation.) The data were fitted by a least-squares method, and the result is given by a sigma= 0.980+0.076v /SUB p/ . This fact demonstrates the trend that the width of the excitation energy distribution of fission fragments increases with the average excitation energy of the fission fragments in the range of nuclides mentioned above.

• Research Organization: Institute of Atomic Energy, Academia Sinica, Beijing
• OSTI ID: 6172410
• Journal Information: Nucl. Sci. Eng.; (United States), Journal Name: Nucl. Sci. Eng.; (United States) Vol. 86:3; ISSN NSENA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

652026* -- Nuclear Properties & Reactions
A=220 & above
Experimental-- Spontaneous & Induced Fission-- (-1987)
73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BARYONS
CALIFORNIUM 252
CALIFORNIUM ISOTOPES
COINCIDENCE METHODS
COUNTING TECHNIQUES
CURIUM 242
CURIUM 244
CURIUM ISOTOPES
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DECAY
DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ELEMENTS
EMISSION
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
FERMIONS
FISSION
FISSION FRAGMENTS
FISSION NEUTRONS
FUNCTIONS
GADOLINIUM
GAUSS FUNCTION
HADRONS
HEAVY NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
LEAST SQUARE FIT
LIQUID SCINTILLATION DETECTORS
MAXIMUM-LIKELIHOOD FIT
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
METALS
MULTIPLICITY
NEUTRON EMISSION
NEUTRONS
NUCLEAR FRAGMENTS
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
NUCLEI
NUCLEONS
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
PARTICLE KINEMATICS
PLUTONIUM 240
PLUTONIUM ISOTOPES
PROMPT NEUTRONS
RADIATION DETECTORS
RADIOISOTOPES
RARE EARTHS
SCINTILLATION COUNTERS
SPONTANEOUS FISSION
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES