Measurement of the 239Pu$(n, f$) prompt fission neutron spectrum from 10 keV to 10 MeV induced by neutrons of energy 1–20 MeV

Kelly, Keegan John; Devlin, Matthew James; O'Donnell, John M.; Gomez, Jaime A.; Neudecker, Denise; Haight, Robert Cameron; Taddeucci, Terry Nicholas; Mosby, Shea Morgan; Lee, Hye Young; Wu, Ching-Yen; Henderson, Roger; Talou, Patrick; Kawano, Toshihiko; Lovell, Amy Elizabeth; White, Morgan Curtis; Ullmann, John Leonard; Fotiadis, Nikolaos; Henderson, Jack; Buckner, Matthew

doi:10.1103/PhysRevC.102.034615

Title: Measurement of the ²³⁹Pu$(n, f$) prompt fission neutron spectrum from 10 keV to 10 MeV induced by neutrons of energy 1–20 MeV

Journal Article · Mon Sep 21 00:00:00 EDT 2020 · Physical Review C

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.102.034615· OSTI ID:1739947

^[1];

^[1]; Haight, Robert Cameron ^[1]; Taddeucci, Terry Nicholas ^[1];

^[1];

^[1]; Wu, Ching-Yen ^[2]; Henderson, Roger ^[2];

^[1];

^[1]; Ullmann, John Leonard ^[1];

^[1]; Henderson, Jack ^[2]; Buckner, Matthew ^[2]

Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

Although the prompt fission neutron spectrum (PFNS) is an essential component of neutron-driven systems that has been measured for decades, there are still multiple glaring unknowns regarding the PFNS of major actinides in the fission neutron incident energy range, specifically with regard to multichance fission and pre-equilibrium neutron emission processes. The only impactful experimental ²³⁹Pu PFNS measurements included in recent nuclear data evaluations were measured over a limited outgoing neutron energy range at thermal and 1.5-MeV average incident neutron energy, while other potentially impactful measurements have been shown to contain errors that resulted in either large uncertainty increases or in complete exclusion from nuclear data evaluation. Here, we report a measurement of the ²³⁹Pu PFNS over a wide range of incident neutron energy (1–20 MeV) and three orders of magnitude in outgoing neutron energy (0.01–10 MeV) resulting from the Chi-Nu experiment at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center. These results are the combination of separate PFNS measurements in the same experimental area, one using a Li-glass and the other a liquid scintillator detector array. Covariances between all PFNS data points from each detector and within each incident energy range were generated between all other data in both detector arrays and within all other incident neutron energy bins, yielding a single covariance matrix for all 1300 PFNS data points reported here. These covariances are based on a thorough assessment of systematic bias and uncertainties associated with the measurement, PFNS extraction technique, combination of data from each detector type, and other aspects of the analysis. The existence of covariances between PFNS data points in different incident neutron energy ranges yielded covariances between average PFNS energy values at each incident energy to be reported here as well, which allowed for firm statements to be made regarding a shape of a purely experimental mean PFNS energy trend for the first time. Although minor PFNS shape differences exist between the results reported here and recent nuclear data evaluations, the ENDF/B-VIII.0 and JEFF-3.3 PFNS evaluations agree reasonably well with the present results from 1-to 10-MeV incident neutron energy, which spans the well-measured 1.5-MeV incident neutron energy PFNS from Lestone and Shores as well as the onset of second-chance fission. However, while the pre-equilibrium component of the PFNS above 12-MeV incident neutron energy roughly agrees in position and magnitude with ENDF/B-VIII.0 and JEFF-3.3, clear differences relating to the relative magnitude of third-chance fission PFNS features are present in the PFNS shape and in the mean PFNS energy trends.

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Research Organization:: Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

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

Grant/Contract Number:: 89233218CNA000001; AC52-07NA27344

OSTI ID:: 1739947

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1668481

Report Number(s):: LA-UR-20-22243; LLNL-JRNL-800997; TRN: US2205404

Journal Information:: Physical Review C, Vol. 102, Issue 3; ISSN 2469-9985

Publisher:: American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Title: Measurement of the 239Pu$(n, f$) prompt fission neutron spectrum from 10 keV to 10 MeV induced by neutrons of energy 1–20 MeV

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Title: Measurement of the ²³⁹Pu$(n, f$) prompt fission neutron spectrum from 10 keV to 10 MeV induced by neutrons of energy 1–20 MeV