EPJ Web of Conferences 8, 07001 (2010)
https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/20100807001

Neutron-induced capture cross sections via the surrogate reaction method

¹ CENBG, CNRS/IN2P3, Chemin du Solarium, BP. 120, 33175 Gradignan, France
² CEA – DAM DIF, 91297 Arpajon, France
³ CEA Cadarache, DEN/DER/SPRC/LEPh, 13108 Saint Paul-lez-Durance, France
⁴ CEA Saclay, DSM/DAPNIA/SPhN, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
⁵ LLNL, US Department of Energy, Livermore, California 94551, USA
⁶ Grand Accélérateur National d’Ions Lourds, Bld. Henri Becquerel, BP. 55027, 14076 Caen, France
⁷ Institut de Physique Nucléaire, 15 rue Georges Clemenceau, 91406 Orsay, France
⁸ HHNIP and Nuclear Engineering, PO Box MG-6, 077125 Bucharest-Magurele, Romania

^a e-mail: aiche@cenbg.in2p3.fr

Abstract

The surrogate reaction method is an indirect way of determining cross sections for nuclear reactions that proceed through a compound nucleus. In this method, the compound nucleus is produced via an alternative (surrogate) reaction and its decay (by fission, gamma or neutron emission) is measured in coincidence with the outgoing appropriate charged particle. This technique has enabled neutron-induced cross sections to be extracted for nuclear reactions on short-lived nuclei that otherwise could not be measured. The CENBG collaboration has successfully applied this technique to determine the neutron-induced fission cross sections of several short-lived nuclei such as ²³³Pa, ^242,243Cm and ²⁴¹Am. These data are very important for the development of the Th/U cycle and for minor actinide transmutation. We currently investigate whether this powerful technique can also be used to determine the neutron-induced capture cross sections. For this purpose we will use the surrogate reaction ¹⁷⁴Yb(³He,pγ)¹⁷⁶Lu to infer the well known ¹⁷⁵Lu(n,γ) cross section and compare the results with the directly measured neutron-induced data. The experimental set-up and the first results will be presented. We will also discuss our future plans to use the surrogate method for extracting actinides (n,γ) cross sections.