Determining the average prompt-fission-neutron multiplicity for Pu239(n,f) via a Pu240(α,α'f) surrogate reaction

Wang, B. S.; Harke, J. T.; Akindele, O. A.; Casperson, R. J.; Hughes, R. O.; Koglin, J. D.; Kolos, K.; Norman, E. B.; Ota, S.; Saastamoinen, A.

doi:10.1103/PhysRevC.100.064609

Title: Determining the average prompt-fission-neutron multiplicity for ${}^{239}{Pu} (n, f)$ via a ${}^{240}{Pu} (α, α^{'} f)$ surrogate reaction

Journal Article · 22 December 2019 · Physical Review C

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.100.064609 · OSTI ID:1604290

^[1]; Harke, J. T. ^[1]; Akindele, O. A. ^[2]; Casperson, R. J. ^[1]; Hughes, R. O. ^[1]; Koglin, J. D. ^[1]; Kolos, K. ^[1]; Norman, E. B. ^[3]; Ota, S. ^[4]; Saastamoinen, A. ^[4]

Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States); Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States)
Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States); Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Texas A & M Univ., College Station, TX (United States)

The average prompt-fission-neutron multiplicity $\bar{ν}$ is of significance in the areas of nuclear theory, nuclear nonproliferation, and nuclear energy. In this work, the surrogate-reaction method has been used for the first time to indirectly determine $\bar{ν}$ for ${}_{239}{Pu} (n, f)$ via ${}_{240}{Pu} (α, α^{'} f)$ reactions. A ${}_{240}{Pu}$ target was bombarded with a beam of 53.9-MeV $α$ particles. Scattered $α$ particles, fission products, and neutrons were measured with the NeutronSTARS detector array. Values of $\bar{ν}$ were obtained for a continuous range of equivalent incident neutron energies between 0.25 and 26.25 MeV, and the results agree well with direct neutron measurements.

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Research Organization:: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC52-07NA27344; NA0000979; NA0003180

OSTI ID:: 1604290

Report Number(s):: LLNL-JRNL--773338; 965114

Journal Information:: Physical Review C, Journal Name: Physical Review C Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 100; ISSN PRVCAN; ISSN 2469-9985

Publisher:: American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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